Junior High Bison teams go to 3-and-0 with this week’s wins

Trent Martin (#44) picks up hard yards against the Franklin Lions en route to the Eighth Grade Bison’s big win on Thursday. With an open week on the high school schedule, football fans had to be satisfied with a pair of pickup games which the coaching staff arranged for their junior high youngters on Tuesday afternoon at Brewer Field-- and satisfying they certainly were. The home teams both came away with wins, protecting perfect season records of 3-0.

SEVENTH vs CAYUGA

The Bison 7th graders gave away several pounds at almost every position as they faced a bigger Cayuga team, but the boys in Purple and Gold refused to be intimidated.

Cayuga's defense stopped BJHS cold on their first drive and the ball went over on downs at midfield. Buffalo quickly got it back, however, when Paul Mata recovered a Wildcat fumble. From there the Bison drove to the end zone with carries by Mata and Jose Guzman. Guzman popped it in for the touchdown and quarterback Dylan St. Pe' scored what would prove to be a critical two-point conversion on the keeper. Buffalo led 8-0 early in the second quarter.

Seventh grade defenders Jose Guzman (#14) and Paul Mata (#21) team up to rob the Cayuga Wildcats of a pass. Guzman came down with the interception which killed the CJHS drive, and BJHS held on for an 8-6 victory. Van’Go’photo Matthew Ayres, Damion Magouirk, T.J. Campbell and Mason Carter led the Bison defense in stopping the next Wildcat drive, but the Cayuga defense immediately returned the favor. Cayuga took over at the Bison 45-yard-line and completed several passes as they moved the ball down the field. CJHS scored on a touchdown strike over the Bison defender. Buffalo's D stopped the two-point try to hold on to a slender lead, 8-6, which would be the score at the break.

The Wildcats continued their aerial attack in the third and fourth quarters and the Bison fought for yardage on the ground, but it was the defenses that dominated the second half. Guzman came up with a fumble recovery and an interception, Campbell rushed in on the punter and got a piece of the ball, resulting in a short kick and good Bison field position, and Sergio Vazquez recovered a fumble. Neither offense scored in the second half, and the youngest Bison came away with the win, 8-6.

EIGHTH vs FRANKLIN

Buffalo's 8th graders hosted Franklin in the second game on Tuesday afternoon. The Bison got off to a good start with a 36-yard kickoff return by Adam Simpson that took them well into Indian Territory. BJHS picked up one first down quickly but then the Indian defense bowed up, setting up 4thand 8. Logan Jones slipped through tackles and ran into the endzone for the first score of the game. Trent Martin scored the PAT, with 5:09 in the first quarter.

On Franklin's drive, Martin, Simpson, Jonathan Jordan and Cameron Hughes led the Bison defense. The Indians tried a reverse but it was well-read by Simpson, setting up 4th-and-9. JFHS went for the first down, but Jordan and Jacob DeBorde got there fast for the Bison and the ball went over on downs.

On the Bison's next offensive series, Jones was stripped of the ball. Franklin was then held to three-andout, and Buffalo took over again on their own 22-yardline. Martin covered a Bison fumble to keep the drive alive. A few plays later Jones rounded the corner and wove his way 44 yards for the second Bison touchdown. The PAT attempt failed, but BJHS was up, 14-0.

On the ensuing onside kick, Jones streaked down to cover the ball for BJHS and the Bison offense was back on the field beyond the 50- yard line. Martin was the workhorse, and Read covered a fumble as the Bison went on a scoring drive which ended with 6-yard touchdown run by Martin. Bobby Dorman, who had traded in his #13 jersey for #24, found the luck he had been looking for and carried on the successful PAT. BJHS was up 22-0.

With Ty Bryson and Dustin Sheffield in on several tackles, the Bison defense allowed Franklin only one first down on their next series. Facing 3rd-and-long, the Indians tried a pass and Tyler Adams pulled down his second interception of the young season. Buffalo's O was back on the field near the 50-yardline, with Adams at the quarterback position. Carries by Dorman, Simpson and Read moved the Bison inside the 10, where a mis-pitched ball killed the drive.

In their final offensive series Franklin was able to reach pay dirt in the final seconds of the game, but it was too little, too late. Buffalo tucked away the win, 22-6.

This week the sub-varsity teams play at Corrigan- Camden on October 8. The Varsity men begin district play by hosting the Bulldogs on Friday, October 9.