Football: Blasingame scores two touchdowns to lead Buckhorn past Gardendale, 31-21 By Brett Beaird | AL on November 01, 2013 11:07 p.m. Complete Box Score » NEW MARKET, Alabama - Khari Blasingame scored two touchdowns, including a 76-yard run, as Buckhorn exploded for 17 third-quarter points and beat Gardendale 31-21. Blasingame ran for 175 yards on 20 carries as the Bucks rushed for 239 yards on 38 carries. Quarterback Dalen Morris completed 12 of 18 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Graham Mackenzie caught five passes for 80 yards and one touchdown. Buckhorn shut out the Rockets in the second half as Gardendale consistently drove into Bucks territory, but turned the ball over on downs twice. The Bucks (6-4) had a goal-line stand with 8:24 remaining as the Rockets drove to the Buckhorn 2-yard line but fumbled on third down. The Bucks Ja’Quize Cross had a key 12-yard sack on the Rockets final possession. Buckhorn coach David O’Connor thought the win would provide some momentum entering its first-round Class 6A playoff game next week at Shades Valley. “I am ecstatic about the win,” O’Connor said. “We got over the hump after losing two close games. Gardendale is a good team and their fake punt run for a touchdown hurt us in the first half. But our offensive line took over the game and we controlled the clock. John Kirk (offensive line coach) has done a great job for us this season coaching the offensive line. Khari had another great game and led us in rushing. I know Shades Valley is a tough first round opponent, especially at their place. But our kids really believe they can win the game.” Quarterback Hunter Crook of Gardendale kept the Rockets in the game until the end, completing 13 of 19 passes for 102 yards. Crook also added 70 yards on 10 carries. The Rockets ran for 232 yards on 31 carries. Gardendale ends its season at 5-5. On Buckhorn’s second play of the game, Blasingame ran through a gaping hole and raced 76 yards to put the Bucks ahead up 6-0. On the ensuing possession, D.J. Lewis faked a punt on fourth and 12 and ran for a 65-yard touchdown to put the Rockets ahead 7-6. The Rockets recovered a Buckhorn fumble and seven plays later Lovell Jordan capped a 45-yard drive with a 2-yard plunge to increase the Rockets lead to 14-6 with 39 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Bucks tied the score 14-14 with 7:34 remaining in the second quarter on a 55-yard drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Morris to wide receiver Robert Ford. The Rockets struck back on their next drive as Juan Jackson scored on a 20-yard run with 3:43 remaining to give Gardendale a 21-14 lead at the break. Buckhorn took control in the third quarter with 17 unanswered points. Blasingame scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run to end a 48 yard, 10 play drive and tie the score 21-21 with 7:28 remaining in the third. After forcing the Rockets to punt, the Bucks broke the tie to take a 28-21 lead on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Morris to Mackenzie with 3:32 left in the third. The Bucks tackled the Gardendale punter at the Rockets 15-yard line, setting up Alex Nikonochuks 32-yard field goal with 1:11 remaining in the third. Following its goal-line stand in the fourth, Buckhorn ran off five minutes, driving 60 yards before turning the ball over on downs. After Cross’ sack, a fourth down pass fell incomplete and the Bucks ran out the clock. Related Links:Khari BlasingameHunter CrookDalen MorrisGraham Mackenzie
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 05:56:54 +0000
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