Red Bank Rallies Past Boyd Buchanan, 20-16

Highlighted by big plays on offense and a pair defensive stands inside their own 10 yard line in the final three minutes, Red Bank celebrated its 75th year of football with a come-from-behind 20-16 win against host Boyd Buchanan Friday night in a high school football game.

In a error (19 total penalties) and emotional-filled three hour game, the visiting Lions (1-0) used a 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter by Malik Davis and a 69-yard scamper by Demarcus Rivers late in the third quarter to set up the winning score to give first year coach Chad Grabowski his first win at Red Bank.

"We won because we played well in all three phases of the game - offense, defense and special teams," said a smiling coach Grabowski amid a couple of dozen happy Red Bank fans.

Red Zone Stops: Trailing 20-16 late in the fourth quarter, Boyd Buchanan (0-1) got the ball on the Red Bank 22 after a short punt and moved to the Lion 1 yard line, but the Red Bank defense stopped the Bucs on consecutive running plays with 2:35 remaining.

But the Lions defense would have to have one more stand as the Bucs got the ball back with 20 seconds left. Thanks, in part, to a late hit penalty and a pass interference call in the end zone on fourth down, the Bucs had two shots at the end zone from the six, but junior quarterback Cooper Hodge was tackled on the four as time ran out setting off a wild celebration by Lions playes, coaches and fans.

"Our defense (3 stops in the red zone) stiffened when it had to and we know that we will have to depend on them all year," said a relieved coach Grabowski.

First Half: Boyd Buc opened the scoring on its second possession of the first quarter on a Will Greer 27 yard field goal at 5:38 set up by a Kohl Henke interception at the Red Bank 18.

But Davis quieted the home crowd with his 81 yard run to the end zone on the ensuing kickoff for Red Bank's first lead of the night at 7-3 after Christian Valezquez made the first of his two extra points.

The Bucs' Hodge then drove the home team 71 yards in 9 plays capped by his 19-yard scoring run down the left sideline and Boyd Buc had re-gained the lead at 9-7 at 5:39 before intermission. Hodge ran or threw for all but two of the yards on the drive, including three completions for 32 yards to Demaris Macon.

Second Half: The Lions marched 42 yards in six plays in the third as Courtney Stamper scored from the 6-yard-line (PAT was blocked) and the Lions led 13-9 at 4:09.

But here came the Bucs again, as Hodge led the home team 70 yards in six plays thanks in part to  a pair of 15 yard penalties against Red Bank on the same play

Hodge found Ethan Cochran open for 19 yards to put the ball on the Lions 20, before connecting with Macon for a 13 yard pitch and catch slant pattern to the end zone and a 16-13 advantage with less than a minute remaining in the third. Hodge rushed for 102 yards and passed for 125 on the night.

But Red Bank quickly moved to the Boyd Buc red zone as Rivers , who had 153 rushing yards on 21 carries, sprinted 69 yards down the right sideline which set up the final score on Ben Brown's 3-yard run at 10:59.

"We came from behind twice to take the lead which was great, but we missed too many tackles and had too many penalties and missed three scoring opportunities," said Boyd Buchanan coach Grant Reynolds.

Playing with Fire: Boyd Buchanan junior Brenna Dotson entertained the fans by twirling three fiery batons as the school band performed ... she has been twirling since the age of 3 and is a member of United Twirling coached by Tracy Hughes. United Twirling has won 15 national championships, including the most recent one this past July in California where Dotson won a bronze in individual competition and a gold in trio twirling.

Red Bank 20, Boyd Buchanan 16

Red Bank  7 - 0 - 6 - 7 -- 20  

Boyd Buc 3 - 6 - 7 - 0 -- 16