By By MICHAEL BASHARA / Niles Daily Star
BRIDGMAN -- The Buchanan football team traveled to Bridgman Friday night and came away with ITS second Lakeland Conference win in a row as the Bucks beat the Bees 42-10.
This was a game of contrasts. Buchanan ran the ball effectively all night and Bridgman barely ran the ball at all.
Buchanan had four backs with more than 10 carries, and they had two backs rush for more than 100 yards. Gordon Bryant had 139 yards in 15 carries and scored twice. Kyle Cornwell had 109 yards in 17 carries and scored once.
Bridgman took the opening kickoff and marched 19 yards on three completed passes and one run of nine yards before they stalled. At 10:07 in the first quarter, Matt Haughey hit a 46-yard field goal to put Bridgman up 3-0.
Buchanan started its first possession on the 28-yard line after a 23-yard return by Cornwell. Cornwell started out with a big 22-yard gain on Buchanan's first offensive play. DuJuan Bennett picked up seven before Cornwell ran for another 38 yards, setting up Bryant's four-yard touchdown run at 8:24 in the first quarter. Jared Rusher added the two-point conversion.
Bridgman then drove down to the Bucks' 20-yard line where they came up short on fourth-and-two. Buchanan then drove 80 yards in eight plays with Rusher scoring from one yard out. The two-point conversion was no good.
The second quarter started with Bridgman punting from the 15-yard line. The punt was blocked by Bennett and covered by Jim Conners on the 13-yard line. At 9:07 Rusher scored again from the two-yard line. This was a five-play drive of 18 yards. Bennett added the two-point conversion.
Buchanan scored again in the second period on a one-yard run by Bryant. This capped a three-play, six-yard drive that was set up by a 92-yard pass interception return by Bryant.
Bridgman had a first-and-goal from the six-yard line. On third-and-three Bryant made the pick and returned to the six-yard line. Again, the two-point conversion was no good and Buchanan led 28-3 at halftime.
The second half started with Buchanan getting good field possession due to a 25-yard kickoff return by Cornwell. The score came at 9:02 when Cornwell carried in from the four-yard line. Josh Wahlstrom kicked the extra point.
Bridgman then got a break with a 22-yard kickoff return. With Bridgman pounding on the door, Wahlstrom intercepted a Bridgman pass in the end zone.
This gave Buchanan the ball with 7:50 to go in the third period. On a fake punt Bennett hit Bryant for an unexpect gain of six yards.
Bridgman again moved the ball in air. They stalled on the 38-yard line, where they set up for yet another field goal. Facing fourth-and-20 , Bridgman missed the second field goal attempt wide left.
After the missed field goal attempt, the Bucks started on their own 20-yard line. This drive lasted the rest of the third quarter and into the fourth quarter. Bennett scored on a seven-yard run with Wahlstrom kicking the extra point.
Bridgman scored on a 10-yard pass from Tyler Weaver to Shawn Smith. Haughey added the conversion. Haughey also hit on a 34-yard field goal.
Bridgman threw he ball 46 times. Tyler Weaver completed 22 of those passes for 204 yards but was intercepted five times.
Weaver injured his elbow in the first period and played the rest of the game at quarterback. He was unable to go under center, so Bridgman was forced to go into shotgun formation.
Bridgman did not even attempt a run in the third period. For the entire game the Bees only rushed for 40 yards in 14 plays.
In contrast, the Bucks threw three passes and completed two for 31 yards. Buchanan rushed for a total of 395 yards in 61 rushes. Buchanan was also penalized 10 times for 90 yards.