By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Heading into Friday night's playoff game between Buchanan and Union City, Bucks head coach Joe Austin said his team had to win the battle of the trenches.
After a 24-13 victory over the Chargers, Buchanan's first ever playoff game, Austin said his team did just that.
The Bucks found themselves playing from behind after Union City's opening drive. The Chargers' powerful rushing offense grinded through Buchanan on a 15-play, 70-yard drive ending in a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback Nick Martin.
After it got the ball, Buchanan's offense struggled to gain yards against a Charger defense that gave up just 10 points a game during the regular season. The Bucks started the game with punts on their first two possessions.
But early in the second quarter, Buchanan grabbed the momentum on a Union City mistake. With the Chargers punting from the Bucks' 38, their punter kicked the ball into his blocker. The Bucks recovered at their own 34.
The next play, Buchanan capitalized on the mistake with a Dennis Williams 34-yard touchdown run.
On the Bucks' next possession, the Chargers jumped offside on fourth-and-one, keeping the drive alive. Buchanan also benefitted from two 15-yard personal foul penalties on the drive, which was capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by Matt Dykema.
Misfortune struck Union City again late in the second period, whenrunning back Brandon Hills fumbled at the Chargers' 32.
With 26 seconds remaining in the half, Bucks' quarterback Gordon Bryant found Lee Williams in the endzone to put Buchanan up 21-7.
Union City would score once more, a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter, but miss on the two-point conversion. Buchanan kicker Doug Summers hit a 35-yard field goal with 7:08 left in the game to give the Bucks the final 24-13 edge.
Buchanan gave up 265 yards rushing to the Chargers on 61 carries, including two long drives deep into Bucks' territory. But the defense held on two fourth down plays inside the 20 to preserve the victory.
Buchanan plays at Constantine on Friday.