Rangers win showdown

Published 11:41 pm Friday, September 26, 2008

By By TOM NYHUIS / Vigilant/Argus
BUCHANAN – It was a matter of being out coached and out played by the Rangers that Buchanan was handed a 29-15 Lakeland Conference football loss. That was Buck coach Joe Austin's assessment of Friday nights setback.
Coming into the league showdown between the two unbeaten teams, (3-0, 1-0) it had all the makings to be a shoot out with the two top running backs in the league going head-to-head.
In the end it was DaShaun Curtis taking the spotlight racking up 210 yards rushing taking the ball 25 times for the Rangers. Clinton Orr was held to just 7 yards rushing. Orr was moved to the quarterback spot after the loss of back up quarterback T.J. Pike from the team. Brian Kuntz had his promising season cut short in game two of the season with a knee injury.
With Orr behind center that put the work load on the shoulders of Adam Byrdak and Aaron White. Byrdak was held to 68 yards rushing and White was limited to 53. The Bucks finished the night with just 130 yards rushing for the night.
Each team took their opening drives of the game into the end zone and it looked like it was going to be a wild night of football at Memorial Field in Buchanan.
The Rangers took their opening drive 68 yards in 12 plays as Kyle Haithcox capped off the drive with a 4-yard run. Marcus File's kick was good for the 7-0 lead.
Buchanan answered right back taking the ball across the goal line in two plays. Clinton Orr set up the Bucks with a 40-yard kick off return starting the Bucks at their own 40. On the second play from scrimmage Aaron White broke free for a 39-yard scamper through the Ranger defense and Tyler Knisley point after kick tied the game at seven.
Cassopolis added their second touchdown of the night with :46 to play in the first quarter on a 3-yard run by Haithcox. File's point after kick gave the Ranger a 14-7 first quarter lead.
Buchanan struggled through out the first half to get their offense going with Orr taking the snaps. In the second half Derek Anglero took over for the Buck's fourth quarterback in as many games.
"We made the switch for Orr to Anglero in the second half to try to get Orr going north and south and try to get him into the game more," Austin said of the half time change.
Cass tacked on a field goal at the close of the first half as File's kick hit the crossbar and bounced through for a 17-7 advantage at the half. "That dog-gone field goal at the end of the first half gave them a nice boost."
Nick Davis gave the Rangers a 23-7 lead with a 1-yard score in the third quarter after a missed PAT.
A 12 play, 35 yard drive for the Bucks early in the fourth quarter cut the lead to eight after a 1-yard dive by Anglero. After the Buck defense made a stop of the Rangers Buchanan was unable to get their offense rolling again and punted the ball away. Cass burned off the final six minutes of the game taking with a 15 play 81 yard drive punching in the final six points as the final three seconds ticked off the clock on a 5-yard run by Curtis.
"That is what we have talked about all year long. Making positive yards. We want a good push up front and our running backs going forward every play. That's what we did and that's what gets first downs," Ranger coach Andy Hubbard said after coming away with the win.
Cassopolis 14 3 6 6 – 29
Buchanan 7 0 0 8 – 15
C- Kyle Haithcox 4 yard run
Marcus File kick
B- Aaron White 39 yard run
Tyler Knisley kick
C- Haithcox 3 yard run
File kick
C- File 34-yard field goal
C- Nick Davis 1 yard run
kick failed
B- Derek Anglero 1 yard run
Clinton Orr run
C – DaShaun Curtis 5 yard run