-
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Christian Flores tackles Cole Chittum behind the line of scrimmage in the Buckaroos’ 49-7 loss to Jim Ned, in which they struggled to contain the Indians’ offense Friday, Oct. 17. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) The only score of the game for the Bucks in their 49-7 loss to Jim Ned was a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown by Truett Trammel in the second quarter Friday, Oct. 17. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Christian Flores runs up the middle on a handoff from Joseph Juneau during a 49-7 loss for the Bucks to Jim Ned. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Breckenridge cheerleaders were all “pinked out” for the Buckaroos’ game against Jim Ned as they stood for the national anthem before the game Friday, Oct. 17. -
(Photo/Alex Kielar) Breckenridge FFA members stand for the national anthem Friday, Oct. 17 before the Buckaroos’ district game against the Jim Ned Indians.
From the opening kickoff, the Buckaroos (2-5, 0-2) struggled to contain the Jim Ned Indians (6-1, 2-0) as they fell behind the 8-ball early in their second district game.
The Indians gave the Bucks all they could handle Friday, Oct. 17, as they lost, 49-7.
After deferring to the second half, the Bucks kicked off to start the game. The Indians wasted little time scoring, as Garon Beasley beat Hudson Woodward on broken coverage and ran into the end zone on a pass from quarterback Cash Gwinn less than three minutes into the game.
The Bucks went four-and-out on their first drive, turning the ball over on downs on their side of the field.
Jim Ned took advantage of the good field position as the Bucks struggled to stop the ball carriers and couldn’t wrap up. Running back Aiden Ellis capped off the drive with a long touchdown run with under a minute left in the quarter, reaching over the pylon for the score and a 14-0 lead with the extra point.
Despite picking up some first downs on runs, the Bucks were forced to punt on their next drive, which the Indians returned to their 40-yard line. It was another long touchdown pass–40 yards–from Gwinn to Beasley that put Breckenridge down 21-0 with 7:35 until halftime.
The Bucks were able to make something happen on the ensuing kickoff as Truett Trammel returned it to the house for a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown. Josiah Acosta split the uprights on the extra point and the Bucks were somewhat back in the game at 21-7.
Gwinn scrambled on a 3rd-and-9 and sprinted to the end zone for another score as the Bucks couldn’t get him down. The momentum stayed with the Indians as they led 27-7 following a missed extra point with under four minutes until half.
The Bucks were forced to punt again on their next drive, before Jim Ned took the opportunity to add another score before the break. Ellis found the end zone again to cap off the drive and ran in for a two-point conversion with just over 30 seconds left.
When it seemed like things couldn’t get worse, Jim Ned’s defense forced a sack fumble of Joseph Juneau right before half, which Jim Ned’s Mason Miller recovered and took to the house. As the clock hit triple zeroes, the Bucks were down 42-7.
There wasn’t much action on either side in the second half. The only score that the Indians tacked on came with 2:30 left in the third quarter. After driving down the field, a touchdown pass to Breck Lawson inside the five got the Indians back in the score column.
“They’re competitors. We’ll compete, we’ll fight to the end. That hasn’t changed,” head coach Casey Pearce said. “Same group that I talked about from day one. They showed what they’re made of. That’s a frustrating way to lose a ball game; it snowballed on us early.”
The Bucks now turn their attention to an important game at the Comanche Indians (3-4, 0-2) next Friday, Oct. 24.
“We’ve got to flush it and move forward. If it doesn’t hurt or bother you, then you’re probably not a very good football team,” Pearce said. “We’re a real good football team; just got to be able to flush it and move forward. We did some things well tonight and allowed some things to happen–it’s the first time our secondary has been attacked like that.”
Pearce added that the Bucks are going to have to win two of their last three games to be able to get into the playoffs, as their backs are against the wall.
“That’s how you want to play, like you're backed into a corner,” he said. “Scrap, claw and fight and find a way.”
