Breckenridge Texan

By Brant Thurmond/Breckenridge Texan

Following an 0-2 start to the 2023 season, the Breckenridge Buckaroos are officially in the win column as they beat the Loboes 41-6 Friday evening, Sept. 8, in Cisco.

It was a complete team effort for the Buckaroos, who scored in all three phases of the game – special teams, defense and the offensive side.

“We got what we expect every week,” Breckenridge head coach Casey Pearce said. “We got to win one, to win more than one. This group practices every day with heart, and I’m proud of this group.

“They finally paid themselves back for the work they put in,” he continued. “The work they put in and the attention to detail that they show in practice finally showed in a ball game. If we can do that week after week after week through execution, we have a chance to win every game we line up in, I don’t care who we are playing. It gives us a chance when we can come out and execute the things, we do every day.”

Buckaroo quarterback Cam Escalon hands off the football to running back Sawyer Wimberley in Friday night’s game against the Cisco Loboes. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)

Being able to close out a game with the lead can prove crucial and had been the downfall the last two games for the Buckaroos.

Pearce noted how well the Bucks were able to play with the lead.

“That’s the first time we have done that consistently this year and it shows,” Pearce said. “We have taken a lead in two ball games and finally, we are in a lead, hold the lead and put our foot down and try to make it a mentality at the end.”

Last week, the Bucks took the lead in the fourth quarter against Childress but came up short with a three-point loss (24-21) in the end. In their first game of the season, the Buckaroos had a 19-point lead in the second quarter before the Jacksboro Tigers eventually finished with a 57-35 win.

Defense was a big key in Friday’s game against the Cisco High School Loboes with the Bucks coming away with five turnovers that resulted in 21 points.

“Lineman assignment…that’s how you respond when it wasn’t very good. That’s the expectation when we play defense and in how we get after people’s rear ends,” Pearce said. “We made plays on the football (in secondary) and lined up with leverage all night. We had defenders where they could see the football and go get the football. That’s huge as a DB (defensive back) to be able to see the ball come out of the quarterback’s hands and go attack it.”

The Buckaroos got off to a quick start as Alexis Franco returned the opening kick-off 88 yards for a touchdown. With Sawyer Wimberly’s PAT kick, the Bucks led 7-0 just 17 seconds into the game.

Cisco ran just five offensive plays before Jaime Cruz came away with a fumble and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown. Wimberley connected on the PAT, giving the Bucks a 14-0 with 8:47 remaining in the first quarter.

The Buckaroo defense came away with a second Cisco turnover as Franco came away with an interception on the ensuing Lobo drive.

The Buckaroo defense takes down Cisco quarterback Kanon Orsagh. To see more photos from the game, click here. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Nine plays and 71 yards later, the Buckaroos scored their first offensive touchdown of the game as Wimberley scored from six yards away. Wimberley also connected on the PAT to give the Bucks a 21-0 with 2:17 remaining in the first quarter.

Buckaroo Hunter Eaton recovered another Cisco fumble with just over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, but the Bucks’ ensuing drive ended with a fumble of their own.

Franco and the Buckaroo defense intercepted the ball on the next Cisco drive; however, the Bucks would come away with no points after failing to convert on fourth down.

The Loboes scored their only points of the game on their ensuing possession with a six-play 58-yard touchdown drive that was capped off with 31-yard pass from Kanon Orsagh to Jaden White. The PAT was no good, making the score 21-6 with 48 seconds left in the first half.

The Buckaroos needed just four plays to go 60 yards as Cam Escalon connected with Cruz on a 25-yard touchdown pass with one second remaining in the half. Wimberley’s PAT was no good, making the score 27-6 with one second left in the half.

In the third quarter, Cisco moved the ball 48 yards in 11 plays to the Buckaroos’ five-yard line but a sack by Joseph Juneau helped end the Loboes’ drive on fourth down.

The Bucks needed just six plays to go 89 yards on their next possession as Escalon connected with Wimberley for a 38-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive off. Wimberley successfully kicked the PAT, giving the Bucks a 34-6 lead with 2:16 left in the third quarter.

The two teams would trade punts on each of their next possessions before Cisco went on a long 14-play drive that used up most of the fourth quarter. Braye Cantrell put an end to the Loboes’ drive with an interception, returning it 51 yards to the Cisco 39-yard line.

One play later, Wimberley scored the final points of the game with a 39-yard touchdown run. Wimberley connected on the PAT, making the score 41-6 with 2:40 remaining in the game.

The Buckaroos finished with 218 passing yards and 137 yards rushing for a total of 355 yards, while Cisco had 92 yards passing and 193 yards rushing for a total of 285 yards.

Escalon completed 12 of 13 passing attempts for 218 yards and had two touchdowns. He also rushed for 30 yards on seven carries.

Wimberley led the Bucks’ rushing attack with 75 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown.

Brilee Bernal led the Bucks in receiving yards with 85 yards and six receptions, while Franco had one reception for 25 yards and one touchdown.

The Bucks will host the Eastland Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at Buckaroo Stadium for homecoming.

Buckaroo Sawyer Wimberley scores a touchdown in Friday night’s game against the Cisco Loboes. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)

District 3-3A Opponents Results

(District opponents in bold)

Vernon (3-0) 42
SA Lakeview (1-2) 6

Iowa Park (1-2) 34
Burkburnett (1-2) 14

Clyde (3-0) 69
Merkel (2-1) 57

Jim Ned (3-0) 17 OT
Wall (2-1) 14

 Bowie (1-1) Canceled
Henrietta (1-1)

Sept. 15 Matchups

• Breckenridge vs Eastland
• Clyde vs Ballinger
• Bowie at Burkburnett
• Vernon at Idalou
• Jim Ned at Rockdale

Click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery from the Buckaroos-Loboes game.

The Breckenridge High School marching band plays in the stands during Friday night’s game in Cisco. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge Buckaroo wide receiver Alexis Franco returns the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown in the game Friday night, Sept. 10, against the Cisco High School Loboes at Chesley Field in Cisco. The Buckaroos would go on to score five more times, winning the game 41-6. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)