Buckaroos close out pre-district play with 42-6 loss to Tolar; first district game scheduled for Oct. 11

September 28

20:29 2024

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By Brant Thurmond/Breckenridge Texan

On a night and week filled with homecoming festivities, the Breckenridge Buckaroos varsity football team looked to gain their first win of the 2024 season Friday night as they hosted the Tolar Rattlers. However, knocking off a 2023 state finalist team was too tall of a task, and the Buckaroos ultimately fell to the Rattlers 42-6.

The Bucks can now throw the 0-5 record out the window, as they will have two weeks to prepare for the 2024 District 3-3A Div. I opener against the Clyde Bulldogs on Oct. 11 at Buckaroo Stadium.

It was the lack of consistency on both sides of the ball that doomed the Bucks in Friday’s game against the Rattlers, something that has been an ongoing issue for much of the 2024 season.

“Spotty play. We played a little bit here and there,” Buckaroo head coach Casey Pearce said. “We moved the football but can’t put it in the endzone. We played defense till third down, (and) let them out of a hole.

The Breckenridge defense takes down the Tolar ball carrier in Friday night’s game in Buckaroo Stadium. Click here to see more photos from the game. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

“At some point, you got to want to be better than the previous snap,” Pearce said. “If we can’t figure out what we are doing wrong and we can’t make corrections, we are never going to get anything achieved. It’s the definition of freaking insanity is what it is.”

After the Bucks were forced to punt on their opening drive, the Rattlers scored the game’s first points with a two-yard touchdown run by Peyton Brown that capped off an eight-play 51-yard drive. The PAT was good, giving the Rattlers an early 7-0 lead with 6:39 left in the first quarter.

The Buckaroos had a quick answer with a three-play 67-yard drive that ended with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Joseph Juneau to Christian Flores. Flores accounted for 65 of the 67 yards on the drive. The PAT was blocked, making the score 7-6 with 5:38 remaining in the first quarter.

The Rattlers responded with an eight-play 54-yard drive that resulted in a four-yard touchdown run by Brown. The PAT was good, giving the Rattlers a 14-6 lead with 2:04 left in the first quarter.

Three plays into the ensuing Buckaroo possession, an interception put an end to the drive.

The turnover did not result in any points for Tolar as Buckaroo Omar Mendoza recovered a fumble by the Rattlers, giving the ball back to the Buckaroos at their own five-yard line.

The Bucks couldn’t do anything with the turnover as a backwards pass was recovered in the endzone by the Rattlers for a touchdown two plays into the following drive. Tolar added the PAT successfully, which made the score 21-6 with 11:51 left in the second quarter.

The two teams traded punts on their next possessions before the Bucks put together a solid drive that went eight plays in 60 yards to the Rattlers’ two-yard line but failed to get in the endzone.

Tolar stretched its lead to 28-6 following a nine-play 98-yard drive that took just 1:43 of the remaining 1:47 (first half) off the clock as they scored on a 13-yard pass from Briton Rice to Dacen Watkins.

The Bucks trailed 28-6 at the halftime break.

The Buckaroo defense forced the Rattlers to punt on their opening possession of the second half and then moved the ball 65-yards in 12 plays to the Rattlers’ 28-yard line. However, the Bucks were unable to keep the drive going as they failed to convert a fourth down attempt.

The Breckenridge defense stopped the Tolar offense on three straight plays and were eager to get the ball back to the Buckaroo offense, but a fake punt that netted 13 yards kept the drive going. The Bucks were able to still force a punt six plays later.

The Buckaroo offense was forced to punt after just three offensive plays on their ensuing drive.

Tolar capped off a seven-play 47-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run by Brown on their next possession. The PAT was good, giving the Rattlers a 35-6 lead with 9:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks moved the ball 32 yards in six plays but were ultimately forced to punt on the next drive.

The Rattlers scored the game’s final points on their next possession as they capped off an eight-play 42-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run by Ethan Tidwell. The PAT was good, giving the Rattlers a 42-6 lead with 2:17 remaining in the game.

The Bucks finished the game possessing the ball for the remainder of the time on the clock.

The Buckaroos will have their work cut out for them over the next two weeks as they prepare for the district opener. Pearce said it will be a time focused on the fundamentals of the game.

“Can’t block people and tackle people or throw a ball or catch a ball… that’s where we start,” Pearce said.

Buckaroo running back Jack McKay catches a toss from quarterback Joseph Juneau during the 2024 BHS Homecoming game against the Tolar Rattlers. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Game Stats

Breckenridge recorded 186 yards rushing and 119 yards passing for a total of 305 yards, while Tolar had 232 yards rushing and 158 yards passing for a total of 390 yards.

Juneau completed seven of 17 passing attempts for 119 yards, had one passing touchdown and one interception.

Flores led the rushing attack for the Buckaroos with 57 yards on eight carries and had six receptions for 43 yards and one touchdown as the leading receiver.

“He took advantage of the opportunity,” Pearce said of Flores’ offensive performance. “The opportunity has been there.”

Jack McKay totaled 41 yards rushing on 10 carries, while Juneau had 30 yards on 11 carries and Hayden Mendoza had 42 yards rushing on five carries.

Cameron David had four receptions for 39 yards.

Flores led the Buckaroos defensively with 16 tackles (two for a loss), including four solo tackles and 12 assists. Douglas White had seven tackles (four for a loss) four solo tackles and three assists.

District 3-3A Results

(Winners in bold; District opponents in italic)

Comanche (3-2) 54
Early (1-4) 20

Wall (4-1) 42
Sweetwater (2-3) 21

Jim Ned (3-2) 17
Holliday (3-2) 15

Muleshoe (4-1) 63
Clyde (2-3) 48

Oct. 4 and Oct. 11 District 3-3A games

SA TLCA (0-4) at SA Grape Creek (1-4) (Oct. 4, non-district)
Jim Ned at Comanche (Oct. 11)
Clyde at Breckenridge (Oct. 11)
SA TLCA at Sweetwater (Oct. 11)

Click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery from the football game, and click here to see a Photo Gallery of the pre-game Homecoming Court ceremony. Additionally, the Breckenridge Texan covered the Homecoming Parade and Bonfire on Wednesday; click here to see the Parade Photo Gallery, and click here to see the Bonfire Photo Gallery

The Breckenridge High School marching band entertained the Homecoming crowd during halftime. See more band photos in the Photo Gallery from the game. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The 2024 BHS Homecoming Queen, Cabel Perkins is crowned by last year’s Homecoming Queen Haylie Mendoza. Also pictured is this year’s Homecoming King Ayden Williamson. Click here to see the Photo Gallery from the Homecoming Court ceremony. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Buckaroo running back Christian Flores scores Breckenridge’s only touchdown of the night on Friday, Sept. 27, in Buckaroo Stadium. The game was the final pre-district game of the season; district games will start on Oct. 11 as the Buckaroos take on Clyde in Breckenridge. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)