Bison over Cougars in crosscounty rivalry

Van’Go’photo PURPLE AND GOLD... A beautiful sunset was the backdrop for a show of Bison solidarity as the BHS and LHS team captains met for the coin toss. Fans for both teams packed the stands when the Leon Cougars hosted the Buffalo Bison in an eagerly anticipated game on Friday, September 25. They were rewarded with an exciting contest with both teams moving the ball well. The score was knotted at halftime, but in the end the Bison had clinched a come-from-behind victory over their neighbors to the west.

Buffalo was assessed a penalty on the opening kickoff, setting the tone for much of the game. In fact, the two teams would combine for 16 yellow flags before the long game was finished.

Leon took the opening kickoff at the Buffalo 39-yard-line, and QB Kirby Watson led his team to paydirt in only two minutes. A 19-yard pass completion to Chris Vazquez was good for a first down, and the score came on a 3-yard run by Seth Noey. Cason McCune added the extra point kick and the Cougars led 7-0.

Aaron Bell drags Cougar defenders for a few more yards after a beautiful pass reception. Van’Go’photo Buffalo's first drive started at the their own 37, but the Cougars' defense stopped them just short of first down yardage on 4th-and-3, and Leon took over near midfield.

The Cougars' Seth Noey and Vasquez anchored their next drive but the Bison defenders, led by Rigo Andrade, Dylan Ansley, Daniel Vazquez and Jacob Rodell, stopped them. Facing 4thand 3, the Cougars set up for a field goal attempt, but Mc- Cune's kick went wide.

Buffalo took over on the 20. This time, Aurelio Dominguez and Aaron Bell were the workhorses on the ground. Canady completed a pass to Andrew Houston for another first down, and #1 kept for another. Jacob Rodell and Jose Dominguez helped keep the drive alive and Aurelio Dominguez put the Bison on the scoreboard with a 3-yard run. With 7:10 left in the half, Andrade's PAT kick tied the game.

BHS band member Tavondre Colbert enjoys the percussion section’s beat. Van’Go’photo Leon's offense answered with a solid drive beginning at their own 28. Watson and company mixed things up for three first downs and were threatening at the 16-yard line. Buffalo's defenders bore down on Watson as he scrambled, the ball was knocked loose, and Ryan Read recovered for BHS. Watson was shaken up, but able to leave the field under his own steam. He would not return to the game.

The Bison took the ball at their own 23-yard-line. Canady ran 25 yards for a first down, then completed passes to Bell and Champion, moving his team into Cougar territory. The Cougar defense bowed up as the Bison closed in on the Red Zone. Facing 4th-and-9, the Bison tried a halfback pass from Bell to Dominic Jackson which fell incomplete. Leon took over on downs with less than a minute remaining in the first half, and the teams went into the locker rooms with the score knotted 7-7.

Buffalo opened the third quarter with a 50-yard drive which featured big runs by Bell, Canady and A. Dominguez, and culminated with Canady scoring on the keeper from 4 yards out. The PAT kick failed, but BHS led the Cougars 13-7.

After a short kick and a fair catch, the Bison D stopped the Cougars for a three-and-out, and the BHS offense took the field at their own 20-yd-line. Bell broke for a 17-yard run up the middle and A. Dominguez picked up another good gain. Canady refused to go down on the next play and reached the L-24-yard-line. A pass completion to Bell moved the Bison close to the endzone, where Aurelio Dominguez was able to go in from the 8, standing up. The Cougar D denied Bell on the 2-point attempt, but Buffalo had increased their advantage to 19-7 early in the fourth quarter.

Leon was not ready to call it a night, and the Cougars, with Juan Hernandez at the helm, roared back with a 75-yard scoring drive that spotlighted Chris Vazquez. Scoring on a 4th-and-4 pass to Justin Padgett and adding the PAT kick by McCune, the Cougars pulled to within five, 19-14, with 6:33 left in the game.

Buffalo determinedly stormed back up the field, fighting for every yard. Gaining the 2-yard-line, Bell tried the right corner, but was taken out by Bumpurs. Aurelio Dominguez dragged defenders into the endzone with a strong second effort, the Bell went back to the right corner and scored the PAT that made the final score BHS 27, LHS 14.

Buffalo had 22 first downs, 316 rushing yards in 56 carries. Canady completed 6 of 8 passes for 57 yards with no interceptions for 365 total yards. Canady rushed for 117 yards on 15 carries, and A Dominguez carried 22 times and gained 109 yards for the Bison and 3 TDs. Bell contributed 72.

Leon had 302 total yards with 204 coming on the ground and 98 in the air. Watson was 2-for-2 for 22 yards, and Hernandez connected on 8 of 13 attempts for 76 yards. Vazquez led the Cougars with 117 yards in 11 carries and Noey had 70 yards in 13 carries.

Buffalo has an open date next Friday before starting district hosting Corrigan on October 9th. Leon, too, is open on October 2 and will host Hearne in their district opener on the 9th.