BUCHANAN — The Buchanan football team started the 2024 season in winning fashion Thursday night.
The Bucks led wire to wire in a 32-6 victory over Saugatuck at home in the season opener. The game was a rematch of last season’s opener which saw the Trailblazers beat the Bucks 21-14.
Leland Payne scored the first touchdown of the season on a 12-yard run to put the Bucks up 6-0 in the first. In the second quarter, quarterback Jake Franklin connected with Tyler Baker on a 35-yard touchdown catch to put the team up for good at 12-0. Jameson Pleasant scored on a 35-yard touchdown run and a recovered onside kick preceded Payne adding his second touchdown run to help the Bucks take a 26-0 lead following a two-point conversion.
Mason Frontczak booted a 28-yard field goal just before halftime gave Buchanan a 29-0 halftime lead.
The second half saw Buchanan reserves get plenty of snaps that will pay dividends down the road. A 34-yard Frontczak field goal in the fourth to round out Buchanan scoring. The Trailblazers found the end zone on a late touchdown pass to get on the scoreboard.
The Bucks outgained the Trailblazers 327 to 169 in total yards, including a 204 to 146 advantage in rushing yards and a 123-23 lead in passing yards. Franklin completed 8 of 12 passes for 123 yards, one touchdown pass and one interception. Payne added nine carries for 44 yards and two touchdowns and Pleasant three for 41 and a touchdown. Baker had four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Nelson led the teach in tackles with five.
Gabe Tompkins led the team in rushing with 100 yards on six carries, including a 45-yard run that helped set up Payne’s second touchdown. He also added a fumble recovery on defense.
“I couldn’t do any of it without my linemen and my quarterback Jake (Franklin),” Tompkins said. “We all worked hard; none of those big rushes would be there if it weren’t for them.”
For Tompkins, helping his team earn a win in the season opener meant a lot.
“Especially this game,” he said. “Last year, I broke my elbow against this same team in week one so it definitely felt good getting this big win against them at home, too.”
Tompkins and the Bucks (1-0) hope to carry the momentum from Thursday’s win into next week’s home matchup with White Pigeon at 7 p.m.
“We’re gonna have to put our foot down, stay in the right direction, work hard and just keep it going,” he said.
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