By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BRONSON - Buchanan once again came out on the short end of the score as the Bucks dropped their second game in a row in football action.
Thursday night it was Bronson scoring in the final minute of play to take a 18-12 win away from the Bucks on the Vikings' home field.
Buchanan as they did last week scored the game's first touchdown with 1:23 to play in the second quarter on a 20-yard run by Travis Reith. The drive began at the Bucks own one yard line after a goal line stop by the Buchanan defense.
The point after touchdown failed as Reith was stopped short of the goal and the Bucks took a 6-0 lead after two quarters of play.
Bronson tied the score in the early stages of the second half taking the kickoff down field and scoring on a 40-yard strike from quarterback Collen Gregory to Devin Hyska. The Vikings PAT run attempt failed and the score was knotted at six with nine minutes to play in the third quarter.
Buchanan's next possession was a quick four and out. A bad snap to Buck punter Matt Dykema forced Dykema to attempt to run to pick up 10 yards for a first down, but was hauled down short and the Viking took over at their own 36 yard line with 7:18 to play.
Bronson looked to be ready to take over the lead as it drove the ball inside the 20 but a big hit by Marques Hall jarred the ball loose from the Viking runner and Hall pounced on the loose ball for the Bucks at the Vikings 19 yard line.
Buchanan drove 81 yards including a 40 yard pass play for Buchanan quarterback Eric Cole to Brian Villwock. Dykema also added several of his game high 154 yards rushing in the drive and capped off the drive with a two-yard rush across the goal line to once again give the Bucks the lead 12-6 as Buchanan's PAT pass attempt came up short.
The Buchanan defense played well and stopped the Vikings on a drive that started on their own 23, forcing the Vikings to punt the ball from their 27.
As the punt hit the ground it bounce off the leg of a Buchanan player and Bronson recovered the ball at the Buchanan 43.
Buchanan had the Vikings pinned down at the 30-yard line with a fourth and 10, but their defense was unable to contain Gregory in the backfield and he broke loose for a 17-yard gain and a first down putting the Vikings at their own 13.
The Vikings were whistled for four penalties in the drive but still managed to take the ball in for a score on a 10-yard run by Cody Pifer with just over three minutes to play to once again tie the game at 12 after a failed PAT kick.
Buchanan's next drive was a quick four and out and Dykema's punt put the Vikings at their own 42 with 1:46 to play.
Six plays later the Viking were celebrating a 18-12 lead after Pifer ran it up the middle of the field 14-yards to pay dirt with :36 to play and the Vikings once again failed to push the PAT across.
Buchanan's final drive ended as time expired on a pass play that sailed over the head of Villwock in the end zone.
For the Bucks, who fall to 0-2, finished with 261 total yard on the ground and passed for another 58 as Cole hit 3-of-7 with one interception. The Bucks picked up 21 first downs in the game.
For Bronson it was Pifer running for 83 yards on eight carries while Ryan Losinski picked up 77 yards on 17 totes. Bronson gained 256 yard on the ground and threw for 68 while picking up 14 first downs.
The Vikings were whistled for 105 yards in penalties while the Bucks picked up 53 yards in penalties.
Buchanan will travel to Cassopolis next Friday as it opens Lakeland Conference action on the road looking for their first win of the season
Buchanan 0 6 6 0 – 12
Bronson 0 0 6 12 – 18