By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Friday's 27-24 victory over Coloma proved that Buchanan was for real in the race for the Lakeland Conference.
Bucks' head coach Joe Austin knows, though, that his team can't be satisfied yet. They have another tough test in Edwardsburg (1-2, 1-1 Lakeland) coming Friday, Austin said.
To win Friday, Buchanan (4-0, 2-0) will have to play like it did in the second half against Coloma, not the first half. The Bucks were dominated in the first half, giving up 300 yards and falling behind 24-7.
In the second half, Buchanan was a whole new team. The Bucks outscored the Comets 20-0 and limited them to less than 100 yards to steal the game.
Austin said the Bucks will need that same effort Friday night against the Eddies. Buchanan has won eight straight regular season games, dating back to last October.
The Buck's running game will be key to victory Friday, Austin said.
The success of Buchanan's rushing game depends on its offensive line. Luckily for the Bucks, Austin said, they have four players who have started for three years on the line.
On paper, it looks as though Buchanan's offense would be too much for Edwardsburg to handle. The Bucks score an average of 37.8 points per game, second in the conference, while the Eddies give up an average of 27 points per game.
Austin is quick to point out, however, that Edwardsburg's points allowed can be deceiving.