Bison stampede through Red Oak Life Mustangs

Saxton Sims pulls in a pass from QB Ryan Read for a 49- yard touchdown strike. Van’Go’photo The Buffalo High football team headed to South Oak Cliff on Friday to take on Red Oak Life. This is the charter school's first year to play a 2A Varsity football schedule and the senior-loaded Bison stampeded through the Mustangs, scoring often and denying the ROL offense the endzone.

In the opening drive, BHS took only five plays to score on a 23-yard run by Aurelio Dominguez up the middle. David Rodriguez' kick was good for a 7-0 lead just three minutes into the game.

The teams traded punts, then the Bison defense again stopped ROL. On 4th-and-15, Jacob Rodell blocked the punt and Tate Hartley was there for the recovery, giving Buffalo great field position. An offensive holding call nullified an apparent touchdown by Jose Dominguez, then the Mustang defense bowed up and took over on the 22-yardline.

Some of the Bison seniors --Chris Sweeney, Ryan Read, Saxton Sims, Jordan Nix and Garrett Henson-- relax during the 4th quarter as the second unit protects the big BHS lead. Red Oak next tried a passing attack but the defenders, led by D.J. Jackson, shut that down in short order, setting up a second quarter that was full of fireworks for BHS.

Travis Cunningam fielded the next punt and Buffalo had the ball near mid-field to start their next scoring drive. Playing in his first game of the season, Dominic Jackson carried for a first down. QB Ryan Read scrambled for another, Jose Dominguez would not be stopped for the next and Aurelio Dominguez found a hole and would not be denied the endzone on a great run. Rodriguez’ PAT improved the Bison advantage to 14-0.

Austin Courmier and Kendall Sheffield led the next defensive stand and ROL was soon facing 4th-and-long. A short kick under pressure set the Bison up in Mustang territory and the Brothers Dominguez each picked up quick first downs. Aurelio scored the Bison’s third TD and Rodriguez was dead-on for the PAT. The Bison led 21-0.

Belles Lieutenant Kayla Ray shines during the introductions, backed by line member Hayley Brewer (L) and Captain Kelsey Fahler (R). Van’Go’photo Travis Cunningham streaked in to recover the ensuing on-side kick, setting up the next TD just 20 seconds later. Ryan Read dived in on a quarterback keep and Rodriguez converted on the kick.

Courmier immediately picked of a Mustang pass to put the Bison offense back on the field. Read went deep and hit Saxton Sims in stride for a 49-yard TD and Rodriguez nailed his 5th PAT of the evening -- and seventh in a row -- bringing the score to 35-0.

The Bison defense wasted no time in getting the ball back. Jacob Rodell and Garrett Henson teamed up for a tackle in the backfield. More pressure on the next play led to a rushed pass and Read tipped it up and into the waiting hands of D.J. Jackson, who broke tackles all the way to the Mustang 15-yard-line. Kendall Sheffield punched it in from the 8. Rodriguez’ PAT was blocked, and BHS took a 41-0 lead into the locker room.

Halftime highlights included the Belles’ performance, a dance-off by the Mustang and Bucky (Julie Cook), and a saxaphone duet by Calvin Young and Jacob Fahler.

In the second half the Bison coaches got a good look at the second unit, which extended the lead by two more touchdowns. QB Tate Hartley scored on a keeper early in the 4th quarter, and Rodriguez added his 5th PAT. Travis Cunningham carried for Buffalo’s final TD, a scamper in from the 20, and the final score was 54-0.

BHS racked up 422 offensive yards. The Bison rushed for 370 yards on carries by ten players: A. Dominguez (11/105, 3 TD); J. Dominguez (8/72); R. Read (4/63, 1 TD); T. Hartley (1/35, 1 TD); D.J. Jackson (2/31); T. Cunningham (1/20, 1 TD), Travis King (2/16); K. Sheffield (3/12, 1 TD); Jesus Lopez (1/7); Dominic Jackson (1/9). In the passing game, Read was 2 for 5 for 52 yards and no interceptions. S. Sims caught 1 (49 yd, TD) and J. Dominguez caught 1 (3 yd). Buffalo’s defense generated 5 takeaways: 1 blocked punt (J. Rodell), 2 interceptions (D.J. Jackson, A. Courmier), 1 fumble recovery (T. King) and an onside kick recovery (Cunningham). The leading tacklers were: T. Hartley (7), Garrett Henson (7), Jonathan Cates (6), Jacob Rodell (6) and Jose Dominguez (6).

With this victory BHS is 2-0 in the young season. The Varsity win made it a sweep for Bison football teams last week, since the JV beat ROL 48-6, and the Freshman defeated Franklin 22-0.

This Friday the Bison host last year’s 1A State Champions, the Cayuga Wildcats, which should make for an exciting game. Come out to Brewer Field and show your support for Bison Football!