Known for his legendary late game drives, hall of fame quarterback John Elway would have been pleased. And surely Peyton Manning, Joe Montana and Johnny Unitas would have given a congratulatory salute.

A late fourth quarter Boyd-Buchanan drive led by senior quarterback Nic Hughes didn’t result in a winning touchdown, but all but secured a 21-14 triumph for the host Bucaneers against talented Christian Academy of Knoxville in the season opener for both schools.

Stymied most of the second half after leading 21-0 at intermission, Hughes and the Bucs orchestrated a fourth quarter 14-play, 64-yard drive which did not produce points, but did consume 5:16 of the final 6:40.

CAK and senior quarterback Michael Fromke (21 of 41, 292 passing yards, 3 interceptions on the night) then hoped for a little – or maybe a lot – of that Elway magic. Eighty yards from pay dirt and plenty of time (1:24) for Fromke.

Six plays put the Warriors at midfield with no timeouts, but Bucs’ junior linebacker Alex Unger ended any possible last second heroics with a win-securing fumble recovery at the Bucs 49 and the large home crowd began to celebrate at Boyd Field.

“Our last drive was huge,’’ said Boyd-Buchanan head coach Grant Reynolds. “Our guys stepped up when we had to.’’

The Bucs started the game firing on all cylinders and scored touchdowns on the first two possessions for a 14-0 lead and the game was less than four minutes old.

The hosts marched 80 yards in seven plays with the opening kickoff capped by a Taylor Gilley 8-yard run to the CAK end zone for a 6-0 lead after the missed extra point attempt.

Junior Clint Babb – who had an interception, and recovered a fumble and blocked punt on the night – secured a CAK fumble on the ensuing kickoff and the black and blue were back in business at the visitors’ 16.
The Bucs needed only four plays to score as Wes Compton ran one yard for the touchdown and then Hughes three more for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 advantage and CAK was back on its heels.

Hughes was 3-for-3 and 41 yards through the air in the two drives, while running backs Ben Beasley and Taylor Gilley combined for 70 rushing yards on eight carries.

Early in the second quarter, junior defensive back Trey McCalla returned an errant Fromke pass 31 yards and a Gilley PAT made it 21-0 at 9:26 before intermission.

The Bucs could have extended the lead, but an all-but-sure scoring pass from Hughes was dropped near midfield.

Five plays later, McCalla blocked a CAK punt recovered by Babb and the hosts were in business at the visitor 16. The drive stalled four plays later at the CAK four with no points.

In the third period, the Warriors’ defense stymied the Bucs running game – 139 yards on 24 carries in the first 24 minutes, but only 41 yards on the ground in the next 18.

The Fromke-led offense then got untracked and cut the margin to seven at 21-14 with a pair of quick striking, 60-yard drives and it was anyone’s game with 6:40 remaining.

Then came “The Drive.’’

Hughes had left the game at 5:35 of the third due to leg cramps and a 21-7 lead.

Eleven minutes and two iv’s later, Hughes – who was knocked out of the 2007 season opener against this same CAK squad – re-entered the game.

CAK had just marched 63 yards in 10 plays in 2:35 capped by a Fromke to Ryan Brooksbank 14-yard scoring strike and had the momentum.

Behind a rejuvenated offensive line, the Bucs methodically moved 64 yards in 14 plays to the CAK 10, but a missed field goal attempt by Gilley gave CAK one last chance.

“I couldn’t run (due to cramps) and the guys up front decided to get it done and they did,’’ said Hughes in post game comments. “Seniors Cole Webster and Reece Davis made some great blocks and our offense was back in business.’’

After a key third down completion of Hughes to Matthew Crowe and a first down at the Boyd-Buc 39 (5:52), the O-Line then went to work opening holes for Gilley and Beasley.

A successful mix of sweeps and inside slants – Gilley and Beasley’s great grandfathers might have likened them to Mr. Inside (Felix ‘‘Doc’’ Blanchard) and Mr. Outside (Glenn Davis) of the old West Point teams of the mid-1940s – saw the Bucs methodically move down the field eating up precious seconds.

“Our line stepped up in those final minutes,’’ said Beasley. “Cole and Reese were the keys down the stretch against a great CAK team.’’

The drive stalled at the CAK 10-yard-line, followed by the Boyd Buc missed field goal and finally by the win-securing fumble recovery by Unger.

“Give them (CAK) credit for making adjustments at halftime to slow down our offense,’’ said coach Reynolds. “But our two senior returning starters (Davis and Webster) led the way when we needed it.’’

CAK coach Rusty Bradley noted the keys were inexperience for CAK and capitalizing for Boyd-Buchanan.

“We lost 16 seniors from the 2007 team and our inexperience showed tonight,’’ said Bradley. ‘‘We let scoring opportunities slip away and did not handle adversity well.

“Boyd-Buchanan made the big plays and we didn’t.’’

Notes:

Good at Home: The last time the Bucs lost a season opener at home, all the current players were in elementary school ... BBS has now won its last five home openers … 2000-01-2003-05-08 … Last loss in a home opener was 95-3 to Tyner in 1997 ... BBS is 8-2 in last 10 season openers, home and away.

Coffin Corner: Bucs lineman Reese Davis also excelled as a punter … With regular punter Hughes sidelined with leg cramps in the third quarter, Reese punted 27 yards and out of bounds at the CAK 1-yard line.

Good Hands: BBS did not fumble, while CAK lost two of four.

Black Out: Taking a page from the 2007 Georgia Bulldogs, the vast majority of Buc fans wore black clothing, while the players wore black jerseys and blue pants.

Defense Standouts: Boyd-Buchanan – Clint Babb (1 interception, recovery of blocked punt, 1 fumble recovery), Trey McCalla (interception return for a TD, 1 blocked punt, 7 tackles), Andrew Crowe (10 tackles), Alex Unger (1 fumble recovery, 2 tackles), Seth Emery (9 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble).

CAK – Tyler Eichholtz (16 tackles), Gabe Atkinson (15 tackles), Jacob Duncan (13 tackles), Tyler McCoy (1 interception).

Almost Another Six: Bucs’ McCalla nearly ended CAK’s final drive before it began … he stepped in front of CK receiver Taylor Moran at the CAK 25-yard-line and all but picked off Fromke’s first pass at 1:20 and with it he would have scored his second TD of the night … but he did record a pass breakup.

Offense Standouts: Boyd-Buchanan – Nic Hughes (5 for 11 and 51 passing yards, 1 INT, 53 yards on 9 carries, 1 TD), Ben Beasley (84 yards, 16 carries), Taylor Gilley (75 yards, 21 carries, 1 TD); CAK – Michael Fromke (21 of 51 for 292 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs), Keenan Kolinsky (83 yards on 17 carries, 4.9 avg.)

Team Stats: Rushing: Boyd-Buchanan – 253 yards on 53 carries, 4.2 avg; CAK – 84 yards on 26 carries, 3.2 avg.

Passing: BBS – 12-5-1, 51 yards, 0 TDs; CAK – 41-21-3, 292 yards, 1 TD.

Red Zone Scoring Chances: BBS – 2 of 5; CAK – 2 of 3

Next Week: Boyd-Buchanan hosts Meigs County (0-0) Friday Aug. 29.

Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net