Buckaroos drop Week 3 game to Loboes, turn focus to Homecoming game against Eastland on Sept. 19
By Brant Thurmond/Breckenridge Texan
The Breckenridge Buckaroos continue to improve from week to week, picking up their first lead of the season on Friday night, but ultimately it was the Cisco Loboes who walked away with the win, 18-14, in Buckaroo Stadium.
The loss dropped the Bucks to 0-3 and still searching for their first win of the season, while Cisco improved to 2-1 with the win.
Friday’s loss is the second straight single digit loss for the Bucks, who had opportunities to get the win but just couldn’t capitalize when it was needed the most.
Defensively, the Buckaroos held their own for the majority of the game and got several stops to get the ball back to offense. That was one of the bright spots for the Bucks.
“That’s the expectation. It’s what we are supposed to do around here,” Buckaroo head coach Casey Pearce said after the game. “That’s why we got coach in front of our name and that’s why those kids go out there every day and bust their tail.”
Buckaroo Cooper Wimberley gains some yardage in Friday night’s game against the Cisco Loboes. Click here to see more pictures from the game. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
As the team continued to utilize a three-quarterback rotation, Buckaroos Joseph Juneau, Hudson Woodward and Cooper Wimberly all saw playing time and executed well, running the ball for the Bucks.
“Those quarterbacks ran with the football and took some absolute shots and we delivered some licks. I’m proud of that,” Pearce said. “We kept swinging; a year ago, we would have thrown ourselves to the ground and found a way to roll over.
“That’s not this football team. I don’t care how you write it up,” the coach continued. “This football team is a scrappy crew, and we are getting better.”
The Loboes led the entire first half of the game, following a touchdown on their opening drive. With 5:47 remaining in the opening quarter, Colby McIlroy capped off a nine-play 53-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown. The PAT was no good.
The next Buckaroo drive went 67 yards in 10 plays but came up empty as the Bucks failed to convert a fourth down attempt at the Cisco eight-yard line.
Cisco moved the ball 72 yards on the ensuing drive to the Breckenridge five-yard line, but the Breckenridge defense stood tall and forced an incomplete pass on fourth down.
The Buckaroos took possession of the ball with 6:10 remaining in the second quarter and moved the ball 48 yards in 11 plays but were forced to punt, turning the ball over to the Loboes with 56 seconds remaining.
The Bucks trailed 6-0 at halftime.
The Buckaroo defense did its job once again on the Loboes’ opening possession to start the third quarter by forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down.
The Bucks capitalized on the defensive stop and moved the ball 57 yards in six plays in a drive that was capped off with an 18-yard touchdown run by Jaime Cruz. Josiah Acosta connected on the PAT, giving the Bucks their first lead of the game and season at 7-6 with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Loboes answered quickly with a three-play 68-yard drive that ended in a five-yard touchdown run by McIlroy. Woodward intercepted the two-point conversion attempt, making the score 12-7 with 5:57 left in the third quarter.
The Bucks were forced to punt after just three plays on their next possession.
Former Buckaroo football player Jerry Lawson, right, was on the sidelines Friday night. He now plays for the University of Louisville Cardinals, who had a bye week this week. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The momentum took a big swing when the Buckaroo defense forced the Loboes to punt. The snap on the punt went over the punter’s head, and, as he tried to kick the ball, Buckaroo Gunnar Pearce blocked the kick, setting up first and goal on the Cisco nine-yard line.
The momentum swing was short-lived for the Bucks as they were hit with a string of penalties – two false starts and a holding penalty – that moved them back 21 yards to the 32-yard line.
With no option but to score, the Bucks turned the ball over on downs after picking up just six yards on fourth and goal from the Cisco 24 yard-line.
The Loboes capitalized on their defensive stop and used up over eight minutes of the fourth quarter on a long 16-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from McIlroy to Carter Toof. The PAT was no good, making the score 18-7 with 3:36 remaining in the game.
The Buckaroos’ next drive started with Juneau at quarterback ended with Woodward after Juneau had to come out of the game.
Woodward came in to lead the offense to the endzone in four plays, ending the 70-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Cameron David. The PAT was good, making the score 18-14.
“Hud led a great drive there after Juneau had started it,” Pearce said. “He (Juneau) got dinged there on the sidelines. Great job with two dudes being ready to roll and getting us in the end zone.”
The Buckaroos attempted an onside kick and appeared to have possession of it before Cisco was able to come away with the ball.
“We got the onside in our hands. It’s just a jump ball deal,” Pearce said. “We got to be able to get it back. It’s just an execution piece. That’s learning how to win in the crunch. These kids haven’t won enough, and they deserve to win a ball game whenever they scrapped like that. At some point, we got to get it done.”
Following the onside kick recovery by Cisco, the Loboes converted for a first down and took a knee to run out the rest of the clock.
The Buckaroos will host the Eastland Mavericks at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Buckaroo Stadium. The game will cap off a week filled with homecoming festivities.
District 3-3A Results
*District Opponent in Bold
Wall (3-0) 24
Jim Ned (2-1) 0
Comanche (1-2) 42
Eastland (0-3) 14
Shallowater (2-1) 35
Clyde (2-1) 14
Ballinger (2-1) 27
SA TLCA (0-3) 6
Seminole (2-1) 58
Sweetwater (1-2) 8
Sept. 19 Matchups
- Sweetwater vs. Lubbock Estacado
- Clyde at Snyder
- Comanche vs Tolar
- Jim Ned at Jacksboro
- San Angelo TLCA- open
- Breckenridge vs. Eastland (Buckaroos Homecoming)
Matthew Wunsch, the Marcher of the Week for the Pride of Breckenridge – Buckaroo Marching Band, plays the trumpet during the halftime performance on Sept. 12. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The Young Bucks and Cheer Buddies participants participated in the opening events for Friday night’s football game in Buckaroo Stadium. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The Breckenridge Buckaroos shake hands with the Cisco Loboes after the coin toss Friday evening. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Buckaroo running back Jaime Cruz runs across the goal line Friday night for Breckenridge’s first touchdown of the game. Click here to see more photos from the game. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
