Buchanan moves step closer to playoffs
Published 1:35 pm Saturday, October 7, 2006
By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – They hit quick and they hit hard as the Buchanan Bucks varsity football team rolled to a 35-0 Lakeland Conference win at River Valley.
Buchanan, 5-2, 4-1 LAC, scored 20 points in the first quarter, taking the opening drive of the game 57 yards into the end zone on a 12-yard run by Matt Dykema, his first of three running touchdowns in the game.
Dykema also had runs of six and 38-yards that finished past the goal line.
"We came out and we were concerned after last week's game at Edwardsburg," Buchanan coach Joe Austin said after the win. "We are a much improved football team and we jumped on them early, which was our game plan. Then we got some kids in to have the opportunity to get some playing time in. It was a big win for us and we're looking for a big game next week against the Bees."
Taylor Oake scored on a 65-yard tote on the Bucks' second drive of the game to take a 14-0 lead. It took Buchanan just one play on their third drive as Oake hooked up with a wide open Jon Mondschein for a 45-yard passing score and a 20-0 lead with 28 seconds to play in the first quarter.
Next came Dykema's 6-yard scamper, followed by a pass interception by Tim Mosier that set up another Dykema score from 38-yards out and a 35-0 advantage.
Dykema finished the night with 102 yards as the Bucks finished the night with 296 rushing yards and 45 passing for 341 total yards.
On the other side, the Mustangs were held to just 42 yards rushing and 81 through the air on 5-of-11 passing by Ryan Narregan by the Buchanan defense. Narregan also had two picks in the game with Drew Medlin coming up the the Bucks second pick of the night in the second half.
Buchanan will be at home next Friday as they host Bridgman for the Bucks final home game of the season.