Buchanan set to face perennial powerhouse
Published 1:26 am Thursday, October 30, 2008
By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – To say the Buchanan varsity football team is battle tested might be an understatement.
The Bucks have gone through their fair share of adversity during the 2008 campaign.
First, Buchanan lost starting quarterback Bryan Kuntz to a season-ending knee injury. Then back-up quarterback and outstanding defensive back T.J. Pike was lost to the team for personal reasons.
And that was only the first three weeks of the season.
But Buchanan soldiered on and despite losing three games by a combined total of 26 points, the Bucks finished up strong blowing out its final two opponents to qualify for the post season for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
Their reward, a trip to Hopkins to take on a Vikings squad that has made the playoffs in 14 out of the last 16 years.
"The Bucks are thrilled to be in the playoffs this year," veteran Buchanan coach Joe Austin said. "We got off to a great start, ran into some snags in the middle and did what it took to qualify."
One of the keys for the Bucks' success down the stretch was the improved play off Derek Anglero, who took over at quarterback the fourth week of the season.
"Derek Anglero is getting better every game at quarterback and we've got to count on our seniors to lead us against Hopkins, a perennial power," Austin said. "They have an outstanding senior backfield, a rock solid defense and their head coach Rex Weaver is a Michigan High School legend."
The Vikings (7-2) have outscored their opponents 340-166 this season.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on WNIL.