By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – Marquis Hall racked up 205 yards rushing on 21 carries Friday night as Buchanan tripped up Centerville 32-28 in the 2007 season opener at Buchanan's Memorial Field.
It was Hall's final run of the night; an 18-yard scamper with 1:32 left in the game that sealed the win for the Bucks. Hall's third score of the game came after the Bulldogs took the lead, 28-26, and left Buchanan with just over three minutes left on the clock to move the ball 64-yards.
Quarterback Taylor Oake hit senior end Tim Mosier on two key passing plays. The first, a 29-yard gain and the second for 15, that put the ball at the 18-yard line for Hall's final run.
Centreville scored early in the first quarter after a fourth and 10 for the Bucks turned into a 7-yard loss after Buchanan thought they had gotten a timeout to stop the play.
The officials ruled that there was no timeout called and the Bucks were sacked at their own 8-yard line. From there it only took one play for Bulldog quarterback, Cameron Jergens, to connect with Jim Ruh for the score and a 6-0 lead.
That play woke up the Bucks as they scored three unanswered touchdowns with Hall taking the ball in from the 1-yard line and his second came on a 54-yard scamper. With 1:07 in the half sophomore Clinton Orr crossed the end zone on a 4-yard jaunt and the Bucks held a 20-6 halftime lead.
"We over came some big obstacles tonight," Buchanan coach Joe Austin said. "We had some big setbacks tonight but we showed a lot of character tonight. They were gassed and tired but they came back and fought."
Centreville took the opening series of the second half to paydirt in a five-play drive that covered 57 yards, 35 through the air. The Bulldog fought off the Buck defense for third touchdown of the night with nine minutes to play in the fourth on Jergens second running touchdown of the game a 1-yard tote.
Buchanan finished the night with 356 yards rushing and 110 yards passing on 4-of-6 passing.
Orr scored his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter on a 10-yard run to give Buchanan a 26-14 advantage.
Buchanan's defense made its final stand of the night when it counted the most holding the Bulldogs at midfield in their final drive taking the ball over on downs at their own 46.
Centreville 6 0 8 14 – 28
Buchanan 14 6 6 6 – 32
C- Cameron Jergens 8 pass to Jim Ruh (PAT – failed)
B- Marquis Hall 1 run (Josh Borr kick)
B- Hall 54 run (Borr kick)
C- Jergens 3 run (PAT- Pass completed)
B- Clinton Orr 4 run (PAT – failed)
C- Jergens 1 run (PAT- Pass completed)
C- Jergens 1 run (PAT – failed)
B- Hall 18 run (PAT failed)