BUCHANAN’S GOAL-LINE STAND CLIPS UPSET-MINDED MEMORIAL

The Bears’ defense comes through for the second week in a row to remain undefeated.

By Chris Haynes
VSP Senior Writer:

It didn’t look good early for the Buchanan Bears. Head coach Mike Vogt benched starting quarterback Lance Orender for throwing three first half interceptions, while the Panthers took and early 14-0 lead.

But they aren’t one of the top teams in the valley for nothing.

The Bears (5-0) put the first blemish on San Joaquin Memorial’s record (4-1) in a thrilling 28-21 come from behind win at Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday night led by Orender, who returned in the second half to lead the way, and a goal-line stand by their defense to cap off a thrilling finish in one of the games of the year so far.

Buchanan struggled often early on, with their passing game out of sync for the second consecutive game after tossing 514 passing yards against Bakersfield two weeks ago. Orender’s three interceptions all happened in the first quarter, one on their first play from scrimmage by defensive back Wesley Miller, the second by lineman Grant Stanley on the Bears second series, giving the Panthers good field position at the Bears’ 12. The Panthers would use three plays, eventually punching in a 1-yard touchdown run by Jose Jolly for a 70 Panthers advantage.

The Bears next series would result in Orender keying in on receiver Jon Andreasen, only to be intercepted for the third time by Miller, his second of the game.

“San Joaquin Memorial is too good a team to turn the ball over like that,” says Buchanan head coach Mike Vogt. “Memorial really doesn’t have that many players and they battled us. It’s one of those deals where I feel like you need to have some games like this early to make us pay attention to detail and ball security.”

On Memorial’s next series, they would drive the ball 60 yards on 10 plays to the Bears’ eight yard-line. Quarterback Bryant Cummings tossed up a jump ball for receiver Tanner Chuhlantseff, but was plucked out the air in the end zone by Jordan Luplow, returning it to their own 9 with 8:13 left in the second quarter.

Memorial would receive the ball back at their 49 after a Buchanan punt. A 28-yard run by fullback David Garcia set-up a three-yard play action touchdown reception to tight end John Savage, increasing the Memorial lead to 14-0.

Buchanan finally found their offensive rhythm on the next possession. Led by backup quarterback Taylor Genuser, Buchanan went the length of the field with four first downs and a couple of pass interference calls in the red zone, eventually trimming the lead in half after a five-yard touchdown reception to Jake East with no time left in the half.

In the second half, the Bears wasted little time finding the end zone. With Genuser still in at quarterback, they shaved 3:30 off the clock on an eight-play drive, highlighted by East’s 17-yard crossing route grab and a Nigel Simmons seven-yard touchdown run, tying it at 14 apiece with 8:30 left in the third quarter.

Buchanan’s defense got a three and out on Memorial’s next possession, leading to a punt that gave the Bears the ball at the Panthers’ 43. It took only two plays; Genuser to Austin Kemp for a 40-yard reception and a three-yard run by Simmons up the middle. Buchanan took the lead for the first time in the game 21-14 with 6:38 left in the third quarter.

Memorial would eventually tie the game at 21 two minutes into the fourth quarter off of a seven-play drive, ending with a three-yard touchdown for Garcia. After stopping the Bears on their next possession, Cummings was stripped by linebacker Christian Parra and recovered by defensive tackle Josh Banks at the Panthers own 31. With Orender back in at quarterback, three plays is all it took the Bears to recapture the lead, capped by a 17-yard touchdown catch to Seth Moranda with 4:51 left on the clock.

Memorial had one last drive in them. They used their two-minute drill to race up the field to get to the Bears two-yard line. On 3rd and goal with 45 seconds left, Garcia tried to punch it in to no avail. With a no-huddle offense implemented on 4th and goal at the two, Garcia still could not gain any ground as the Bears’ defensive front completed a goal-line stand to preserve the victory.

“I’m sure happy that our defense is up to the task these last two weeks, because without some good plays on defense, we wouldn’t be undefeated,” says Vogt.

“It was a tough and competitive game,” said Memorial head coach Anthony Goston. “We knew we had a good shot. We’ve been dealing with things all week with injuries and the flu but our kids came out here and competed. I’m proud of my kids, we’ll respond next week and get better and learn from this.”

“We played smart and did what we normally do but unfortunately we came up short,” says Cummings. “I could have thrown more accurately, receivers could have helped out more, and the line could have protected better but they (Buchanan) came out with heart, executed and got the job done.”

The Panthers (4-1) go home for some good home cooking, as a winless Fresno High team stops by for a visit in week six. The Bears (5-0) open up TRAC play on the road against Madera (4-1).

“Our team played great,” Buchanan’s defensive tackle Kyle Papendorf said. “Our defense stepped up and our offense eventually came around. Our defense made a big stand down there at the two, the last minute of the game. We are a balanced group. You can’t just say we’re just an offensive team now. You need a offensive and defensive minded team to win games and I think we have that.”

WEEK FIVE SCOREBOARD:

Mendota 0 Roosevelt 28 (Thurs)
Mira Monte-Bakersfield 39 Mission Oak 7 (Thurs)
Wasco @ McLane WASCO FORFEITS (Thurs)
Argonaut 14 Hilmar 20
Bakersfield 22 Centennial 7
Buhach Colony 36 Atwater 28
Central Valley Christian 17 Immanuel 35
Chavez 0 Tulare Western 7
Chowchilla 13 Kerman 20
Clovis West 28 Edison 14
Coalinga 0 Kingsburg 62
Coast 6 Farmersville 42
Delhi 0 Livingston 43
El Diamante 21 Paso Robles 18
Exeter 7 Sierra 14
Fowler 14 Corcoran 22
Frontier 42 West 7
Garces 62 Highland 21
Golden Valley-Bakersfield 30 East Bakersfield 40
Golden West 27 Mt. Whitney 40
Hanford West 14 Hanford 38
Hoover 28 Sunnyside 8
Independence 0 Clovis North 63
Kings Christian 16 Avenal 24
Laton 6 Caruthers 49
Le Grand 37 Riverbank 0
Liberty-Bakersfield 24 Foothill 0
Liberty-Madera Ranchos 14 Dos Palos 21
Lighthouse Christian 28 Clovis Christian 55
Lindsay 35 McFarland 0
Mariposa 6 Summerville 34
Memorial 21 Buchanan 28
Merced 6 Los Banos 3
Monache 12 Delano 33
Orange Cove 50 Orosi 6
Parlier 47 Firebaugh 22
Porterville 6 Taft 28
Redwood 27 Lemoore 21
Reedley 49 Fresno 24
Ridgeview 35 North 7
Rosamond 6 Tehachapi 32
Selma 13 Dinuba 35
Stockdale 63 South 20
Strathmore 55 Riverdale 7
Tranquillity 32 Fresno Christian 29
Tulare Union 69 Granite Hills 0
Turlock 8 Golden Valley-Merced 53
Village Christian-Sun Valley 35 Bakersfield Christian 14
Washington Union 30 Yosemite 20
Waterford 21 Gustine 7
Visalia Christian 0 Riverdale Christian 61 (Sat)

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