It was a flea flicker thrown by Sloan Helton that sent a shiver down Boyd Buchanan’s side, as the Buccaneers witnessed their first opponent enter the endzone all season. In the first two weeks, the Bucs had placed what almost felt like an invisible barrier on their goal line, as opponents could never find their way past the last white stripe on the field.
Helton’s heave to Will Kelley looked like it set off an alarm in Boyd’s shutdown slumber. As Boyd had no option but to wake up in a game they were now trailing.
Coach Gary Rankin had a message to reenergize his players after the big play. It worked and the Bucs went on o a 30-8 win over the visiting Warriors.
“We tell them to just keep playing it’s a 4-quarter game. You know we know things can happen. I thought we fought good all night, that was a good sign.”
And fought they did. The Buccaneers were not deterred at all with the scoreboard now shining an 8-7 Warrior advantage. They came straight back with a momentum shot of their own, in the form of an 80-yard run from senior RB, Jaylon Sanderfer. The strong and fast back, Sanderfer, ran through the heart of the CAK defense, dragging and willing past defenders on the long run. Sanderfer had a limited workload for the night only garnering 6 carries to his name, but he made sure they all counted. Sanderfer finished the game with six carries for 142 yards and two TDs.
The long run willed the Buccaneer’s defense back together as they would shut out CAK for the rest of the contest.
“There has been a lack of some stuff around here I think in the past when you get behind, and you don’t fight, you don’t fight the whole game. But I thought our kids did that tonight and I’m proud of them”, Rankin said.
The stigma of getting down some points and then giving in for the team located down near Buccaneer Trail is certainly a stigma of the past. And second-year coach, Coach Rankin, has a lot to do with that.
Rankin comes with an incredible history of coaching etched to his back, as he is no stranger to coaching winning football. He holds the state record for most state championships won by a coach, at 17. Along with also winning a mind-boggling seven straight state championships at Alcoa High School.
When asked what he’s bringing over from his past success at Alcoa now to Boyd, he said,“You know nothing, I’ve coached for a while, nothing different, just try to get the kids to work hard, believe in what they are doing, and be good teammates.”
The humble Rankin has certainly had some effect on this group of young men, as the Bucs' record now stands at 3-0.,
Another thing that stood out about Boyd Buchanan in this contest was their versatility. They continually switched between two quarterbacks, who were both extremely efficient. Houston Hicks and Brodie Lowe combined for 147 yards on 10 of 11 passing. The versatility also shined on the defensive side, as many of the offensive players also lined up for Rankin’s dynamo defense.
This multitalented and well-coached Buccaneers team will look to continue on their hot streak across the border next week. As they take on North Cobb Christian in Kennesaw, Georgia.
SUMMARY
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CAK
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0
|
8
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0
|
0
|
-- 8
|
|
BOYD BUCHANAN
|
7
|
10
|
13
|
0
|
-- 30
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BB Jaylon Sandefer 21 run (Ethan Lane kick) (3:24, 1st)
CAK Will Kelley 28 pass from Sloan Helton (Jay Duncan run) (8:42, 2nd)
BB Sandefer 80 run (Lane kick) (8:25, 2nd)
BB Lane 29 field goal (3:27, 2nd)
BB Jayden Moore 50 pass (Lane kick) (10:52, 3rd)
BB David Green 4 run (kick blocked) (5:21, 3rd)
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STATS
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CAK
|
BB
|
|
First Downs
|
13
|
12
|
|
Rushes-Yards
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36-180
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28-224
|
|
Passing Yards
|
126
|
147
|
|
Total yards
|
258
|
371
|
|
Passing (Comp-Att-Int)
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10-21-0
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10-11-0
|
|
Fumbles-Lost
|
0-0
|
0-0
|
|
Penalties-Yards
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6-45
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11-87
|
|
Punts-Avg
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6-31.3
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5-28.2
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Individual Stats
Rushing: Jaylon Sanderfer 6-142; David Green 7-45; Jatavius Davis 7-21; Keion Brooks 3-14; Justin McGoy 2-6; Jerl Young 1-1; Sebastian Jones 1-(-3); (BB); Jay Duncan 10-58; Lincoln Rich 18-52; Godwin Beebe 2-13; Sloan Helton 1-4; Shepard Strange 2-3 (CAK).
Passing: Aiden Troutt 9-18-0 for 89 yards: Sloan Helton 1-1-0 for 28 yards, 1TD: Shepard Strange 1-3-0 for 9 yards (BB); Zacchaeus Beard 10-17-1 for 108 yards, (CAK); Houston Hicks 4-4 for 82 yards, 1 TD: Brodie Lowe 6/7 for 65 yards (BB).
Receiving: Jayden Moore 3-66; PJ Donaldson 3-49; Hudson Hamack 2-16; Jatavius Davis 1-4 (BB); Will Kelley 5-79; Ward Sterchi 1-22; Christopher Cook 1-11; Lincoln Rich 2-8; Sloan Helton 1-6 (CAK).
Records: Boyd Buchanan 3-0; Christian Academy of Knoxville 1-2
(Email Gray Deyo at sports@chattanoogan.com)