By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - Buchanan's varsity football team was tripped up Friday night at Buchanan's Memorial Field by Centreville, 22-8, in the season opener for both teams.
Buchanan opened the scoring in the first half on a 3-yard run by quarterback Eric Cole with 4:07 to play in the first quarter. Matt Dykema ran in the extra point for two points and the Bucks were on the board 8-0.
The touchdown was set up by a 63-yard run by Dykema who finished the game with 106 yards rushing on 13 carries for the Bucks. "I don't have one excuse for the outcome of this game," Buchanan coach Joe Austin said after the defeat.
Buchanan outrushed the Bulldogs 164 yards to 112 yards on the ground but it was the passing of Centrevile's Shane Milliman that gave the game to the Bulldogs. Milliman threw for 164 of Centreville's 170 yards passing hitting his receivers 12 times on 20 tosses. Milliman also was the leading rusher with 57 yards on 22 carries. Centreville finished with 112 yards rushing.
Centreville got on the board midway in the second quarter on a 1-yard tote by John Tully and Milliman ran in the extra point for two to tie the game at eight with 8:24 to play.
After a four and out by the Bucks the Bulldogs began another drive starting at their own 28 yard line. Buchanan looked to have the Bulldogs stopped on a fourth down at their 38 yard line but a pass interference call against the Bucks gave the Bulldogs the ball at the 28.
After a three yard gain Milliman threw a strike to Christian Alexander in the endzone for a 25-yard completion. The extra point was missed and the Bulldogs held a 14-8 lead with 3:35 to play in the first half.
The Bucks were unable to get their offense started in the second half and turned the ball over to the Bulldogs at mid-field. A pass by Milliman but the Bulldogs down on the 4-yard line but the Buck defense held the line and kept Centreville out of the end zone.
Buchanan took over at the 3-yard line and moved the ball up the field. Eric Cole connected on two of his four completions in the game during the drive.
A 16-yard strike to Brian Villwock and a 11-yard connection to Jordan Lee pushed the ball past mid field.
The Bucks drive stalled out at the 33 as they were stopped by the Bulldogs on a fourth and two. Cole threw for 77 yards on 4-for-11 passing
Buchanan looked to have stopped Centreville's next drive as they were moving the ball towards the endzone.
After a pass completion the ball was coughed up and Buchanan recovered the ball.
A flag was tossed back by the quarterback for a roughing the quarterback penalty along with another personal foul penalty put the ball at the 3-yard line.
This time it was Zach Adams punching it in for the 3-yard score. The two point conversion was good and the Bulldogs were up 22-8.
Centreville had 17 first downs in the game were the Bucks could only convert eight for the night.
"I knew this was a young team coming in and there was a lot of butterflies and jitters before the game. One game does not make a season and we will bounce back and get ready to play Bronson," Austin said.
Buchanan, 0-1 will travel to Bronson next Thursday and look to rebound for Friday nights tough loss.