Breckenridge Texan

By Brant Thurmond/Breckenridge Texan

Prior to Friday’s District 3-3A opener against the Clyde Bulldogs, the Breckenridge Buckaroos knew the importance of winning the first district game if they had any hopes of breaking their three-year playoff appearance drought.

The Bucks performed on a high level en route to a 44-29 win over the Bulldogs and moved to 1-0 in district play.

Friday’s win pushes the Bucks closer to the goal of making the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and sets up a crucial matchup with the Early Longhorns, who were defeated on Friday by defending Class 3A Division I state champion Jim Ned, 48-7.

“The only way you can get in the playoffs is win the first one,” Buckaroo head coach Casey Pearce said. “The kids made their mind up. We had a two-score lead and almost let it get away from us. We got to be better there and be able to play the deep ball obviously. Next week, they (Early) are going to try to light us up. We got to show back up and get it straight.”

Buckaroo running back Anson Rodgers runs for the Clyde goal line in Friday night’s game. He had 107 yards and two touchdowns on seven attempts, as well as 104 yards receiving on six receptions. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The Bucks offensive line opened some big holes for the running game as all the points the Bucks put on the board came from rushing touchdowns. Pearce noted the performance of the defensive line putting pressure on Clyde as well.

“I was extremely proud of how the offensive and defensive lines played,” Pearce said. “We put pressure on them; we blocked people. I don’t know how many backs we had get touches, but there were lanes to run in most of the night. If you can do that, you have a chance to win football games. If you run the football through district play, you are going to get in the playoffs when it gets cold and nasty, and you will have a chance. That’s our goal. We are going to play 11 games somehow.”

Junior Jerry Lawson rushed for four touchdowns and carried the Buckaroos on his back late in the game with several runs in key moments of the game.

“Put an exclamation point on those runs there at the end of the ball game,” Pearce said. “That’s an attitude and a demeanor that we are going to have one way or another. We are going to figure out how to be a hard nose football team and do it every week.

“That’s how you do it. When you have a guy that wants the football in crucial times,” he said. “He and Anson (Rodgers) are both some of the most competitive kids that I’ve ever coached.”

The game started with both teams trading punts on their first possessions before Buckaroo Trace Thompson recovered a Clyde fumble.

The Bucks answered with a seven-play 59-yard drive that was capped off with a two-yard touchdown run by Lawson. He ran in for the two-point conversion, as well, to give the Buckaroos an 8-0 lead with 4:39 left in the first quarter. Rodgers had a 31-yard reception on the play prior to the touchdown run by Lawson to help set up the score.

Clyde responded on the ensuing drive with a 12-play 63-yard drive of their own that was aided by a Buckaroo penalty on third down and later led to an one-yard touchdown run by Blake Carr. Pedro Altamirano’s PAT was good, making the score 8-7 with two seconds left in first quarter.

After exchanging punts, the Bucks put together a quick five-play 51-yard drive that ended with a 37-touchdown run by Rodgers. Lawson ran in for the two-point conversion again, giving the Bucks a 16-7 lead with 6:16 left in the second quarter.

Breckenridge quarterback Chase Lehr advances the ball in the Buckaroos’ first district game of the season. To see more photos from the game, click here for the Breckenridge Texan Photo Gallery. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Clyde would cut the score to 16-14 with 3:40 left in the second quarter on the ensuing possession with a one-yard run by Carr.

The Bucks stretched the lead to 10 points (24-14) with just 35 seconds remaining in the first half as Lawson capped off a seven-play 66-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Rodgers ran in for the two-point conversion. Chase Lehr had a 44-yard pass completion to Alexis Franco on the drive as well to help put the Bucks inside the 10-yard line.

Breckenridge started the third quarter with ball and quickly drove 75-yards in six plays and capped off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run by Lawson. Lawson ran in for the two-point conversion, giving the Bucks a 32-14 lead with 8:55 left in the third quarter. Rodgers had a 35-yard reception from Lehr on the drive for the Bucks.

The Bulldogs needed nine plays to go 80 yards before they found the endzone with a one-yard run by Carr. The PAT was good, making the score 32-21 with 5:15 left in the third quarter.

The Bucks were forced to punt after just three plays, and Clyde was able to cash in on the ensuing drive with a four-play drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Chris Hurley. Carr ran in for the two-point conversion to make the score 32-29 with 2:26 to play in the third quarter.

The Buckaroos used the remaining 2:26 of the third quarter and another minute of the fourth quarter to go 75-yards in 10 plays before capping the drive off with a 25-yard touchdown run by Rodgers. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, making the score 38-29 with 10:58 left in the fourth quarter.

Clyde moved the ball to the Buckaroo 16-yard line, but following an intentional grounding penalty, the Buckaroo defense came away with a crucial fourth down stop.

Breckenridge took over on their own 16-yard line at the 8:44 mark and methodically moved the ball down the field, chewing up over six minutes of the game clock en route to a seven-yard touchdown run by Lawson. The two-point conversion was no good, making the score 44-29 with 2:07 remaining in the game.

“That was the MO coming out after halftime. We wanted to set the tone running the football and try hold on to it and milk the clock,” Pearce said of the drive. “We got to create that identity. If we have to create that identity and it’s something every week and it’s something we got to try to be, we aren’t going to be a very good football team. When we can create a violent and physical identity, we are going to have a chance.”

The Bulldogs only gained five yards on their next possession and the Buckaroo defense came away with a fourth down stop to give the ball back to the offense and run out the rest of the game clock.

The Buckaroos finished with a season-high 500 yards of total offense. They had 311 yards rushing and 189 yards passing, both season highs for the Bucks.

Lawson finished the game as the leading rusher for the Bucks with 130 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 21 rushing attempts, while Rodgers had 107 yards and two touchdowns on seven attempts. Rodgers also had 104 yards receiving on six receptions.

Lehr completed 10 of 15 passing attempts for 189 yards.

Clyde finished with 284 yards passing and 109 yards rushing for 393 yards of total offense.

The Buckaroos take on the Early Longhorns at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in Early.

District 3-3A Results

Jim Ned (6-0, 1-0) 48
Early (5-1, 0-1) 7

Wall (3-2, 1-0) 64
SA TLCA (0-5, 0-1) 13

Breckenridge (2-4, 1-0) 44
Clyde (0-6, 0-1) 29

To see more photos from Friday night’s game, click here for the Breckenridge Texan Photo Gallery.

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge High School running back Jerry Lawson had what was probably one of the best night’s of his  football career on Friday night against the Clyde Bulldogs. He was the leading rusher for the Buckaroos with 130 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 21 rushing attempts. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The Young Bucks ran out on to the field ahead of the varsity Buckaroos prior to Friday night’s football game against the Clyde Bulldogs. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The Pride of Breckenridge – Buckaroo Marching Band entertained the crowd at halftime Friday night. On Saturday morning, the band competed in the Seymour High School Marching Band Festival and earned a First Division rating, as well as awards for Outstanding Brass and Best in 3A. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge High School)

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