Buchanan captured its first district championship with a 35-0 win over Berrien Springs Friday night. (Leader photo/TIM MOSIER)

Buchanan captured its first MHSAA district championship with a 35-0 victory over visiting Berrien Springs Friday night.

The Bucks (11-0) will now travel to Ida (11-0) for the Division 5 Regional championship game. Ida defeated Dearborn Heights Robichaud 39-30.

The game will be played at 7 p.m. Friday night.

The Bucks high-powered offense has had a lot of success scoring on their first drive this season and Friday night was no different.

After senior running back Tim McCaffrey took off down the sideline for 32 yards, junior Dalton Riddle caught back-to-back 10-plus yard catches from junior quarterback Darren Shearer.

The second was a 13-yard catch for a touchdown, giving the Bucks the early lead.

Buchanan scored again, late in the first quarter on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Shearer to senior receiver Bryce Vineyard.

The lone score in the second quarter was another Buck touchdown. This time it was senior quarterback Jarrett Thomas scrambling around for the 4-yard carry, putting Buchanan up 21-0 at halftime.

The Buchanan defense was playing out of their minds.

In the first game against the Shamrocks, Buchanan surrendered 246 rushing yards (194 of those to Malik McIntyre). Friday night was an entirely different story.

“Our kids showed up and tackled,” Buchanan coach Reid McBeth said. “I think McIntyre broke loose on one run, but otherwise I think our kids did a heckuva of a job tackling tonight.”

Down 21-0 in the third quarter, it seemed as though Berrien Springs would need Buchanan to make a few mistakes to get back in the game.

The Bucks gave them nothing. Rather, they forced Berrien Springs into make mistakes, two major ones that cost them the game.

On third down and eight for the Shamrocks near midfield, Buchanan forced and recovered a fumble. The next play, Buchanan’s Jacob Graham scurried for a 44-yard touchdown.

On Berrien Spring’s ensuing possession, Buchanan forced another turnover. This time it was the pressure of the defensive line that caused a bad throw, allowing Thomas to come up with the interception.

Again, Buchanan scored on the very next play — a 36-yard touchdown run by McCaffrey.

That score put the Bucks up 35-0 and started the running clock for the remainder of the game.

Late in the game, with Berrien Springs driving to ruin the Buck’s shutout, junior safety Chad Adkerson ripped the ball from a Shamrock running back and pounced on the fumble securing the championship.

Shearer was 6-of-7 passing for 122 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas went 3-of-5 with a rushing touchdown and an interception.

The Bucks leading rusher was Jacob Graham with 53 yards and a score. McCaffrey finished with 116 total yards and a touchdown of his own.

BUCHANAN 35, BERRIEN SPRINGS 0

At Buchanan

BU – Dalton Riddle 13 pass from Darren Shearer (pass failed)

BU – Bryce Vineyard 8 pass from Darren Shearer (Darren Shearer run)

BU – Jarrett Thomas 4 run (Kyle Leazenby kick)

BU – Jacob Graham 43 run (Kyle Leazenby kick)

BU – Tim McCaffrey 39 pass from Darren Shearer (Kyle Leazenby kick)

Varsity records: Berrien Springs 9-2, Buchanan 11-0