By TOM NYHUIS
Niles Daily Star

COLOMA – The excitement continues to grow on the Buchanan football sidelines after the Bucks remained in the Lakeland Conference title race and still in the hunt for a play off spot after picking up a 27-6 league win over host Coloma Friday evening.

The win spoiled the Comets’ homecoming, while the Bucks also picked up their third league win in a row.

“This was a huge win for us and the kids played great.” an excited Joe Austin of the Bucks said. “We are in the mix and we are playing Edwardsburg next week and then we are done (in the conference) and then we have Muskegon Heights so we have our work cut out for us.

“Edwardsburg is outstanding and no one has stopped them running that T formation. It should be a heck of a game. This was a very good football team that we played tonight and that score doesn’t indicate the level of play that those guys took us too. We feel great and I’m very proud of my team,” he added.

Cordel Johnson led the Buchanan (4-3, 4-1) offensive running attack finishing the night with 143 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Bryan Kuntz hit 9-of-15 passes for 124 yards throwing with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Ganus. Ganus finished the game with four catches and 68 yards.
For the night the Bucks racked up a total of 308 total yards on offense, 184 coming on the ground.

“Our passing has been getting better every game. Bryan has matured and we have been a T-formation for many, many moons and we have taken what they have given us. Tyler Ganus is a heck of a tight end. If he is not one of the best around I don’t know. He’s got the speed and he is just a great athlete and Bryan gets them there and Cordel just keeps running hard. I thought we always had a good offensive line but they just keep getting better and better and the defense played well tonight,” Austin said.

While the offense was taking care of the ball the Bucks defense was again stepping up big holding the Comet offense to just 163 total yards of offense. The Comets biggest run of the night came in their second drive of the game when Coloma’s quarterback did a disappearing act with the ball on a hand off. Pulling the ball back he ran for 46 yards around the left side into the end zone. Coloma had a chance to tie the game with 7:25 to play in the first quarter at seven but the point after kick failed.

Buchanan opened the scoring on their opening drive of the game. A blocked punt by Ganus set the Bucks up with great field position at the 12. Four plays later Adam Byrdak put the Bucks on the board with a 1 yard run across the goal line.

As the Bucks defense continued to stop Coloma’s offense the Buchanan offense continued to move the ball. Two of the Bucks biggest drives of the first half stalled out with Ryan Catalano’s field goal attempts missed.

Buchanan’s second TD of the night came on the 30-yard pass play from Ganus with 4:22 to play in the first half. Buchanan got one more chance to distance themselves from the Comets and Johnson gave Buchanan a 21-6 half time lead taking the ball in from the two with :45 to play in the half.

Buchanan drove 80 yards in the fourth quarter to add to their lead with Johnson ending the drive with a 3-yard tote into the end zone. The Comets were threatening to score late in the fourth but a defensive stand by the Bucks stopped the Comets inches short of the first down marker on a fourth and on at the 14.

“That was huge and we played pretty solid,” Austin said.

Coloma was held to 72 rushing yards and 91 yards through the air on 9-of-16 passing for a total of 163 yards of offense.

Buchanan will host Edwardsburg next week as the Bucks celebrate homecoming with a 7 p.m. game time.

Buchanan 7 14 0 6 – 27
Coloma 6 0 0 0 – 6
B – Adam Byrdak 1 run (Ryan Catalano kick)
C – 46 run (kick failed)
B – Bryan Kuntz 30 pass Tyler Ganus (Catalano kick)
B – Cordel Johnson 2 run (Catalano kick)
B – Johnson 3 run (kick failed)