Bucs roll past Silverdale for undefeated regular season

Prep Football
Prep Football

After finishing off its best regular season since 1996, Boyd-Buchanan's football team now turns its attention to claiming the program's first state championship since 2003.

The top-ranked Buccaneers clobbered visiting Silverdale Baptist 49-0 Friday night to join East Ridge as the only Chattanooga-area Tennessee programs to make it through the regular season unbeaten.

Although the Bucs - who went 7-0 in Region 3-2A - have played in four state championship games in program history, this is only the second time they've made it through a regular season undefeated.

"That's really hard to do. It's a testament to the kids and our coaching staff to make it through as tough a schedule as we had without a loss," said Bucs coach Grant Reynolds, whose team had already wrapped up the region title before the game but remained focused on remaining unbeaten.

"We were picked in a tie for third in our region in the preseason, and I think that kind of motivated our kids. We've played with a chip on our shoulder for most of the year, like they really wanted to prove something."

The Bucs, who have now won 25 straight region games, built a 35-point lead by halftime and cruised through the second half with the mercy rule in effect against Silverdale (4-6, 1-6). Boyd-Buchanan will host Eagleville in next week's first round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

As has often been the case this season, defense led the way Friday for the Bucs, including an interception returned for a touchdown by Cooper Hodge. The Bucs gave up just 56 total yards, forced two turnovers and also scored when Cole Henke returned a blocked punt.

It was the third shutout of the season for the Bucs, who have allowed more than 14 points just once in 2015.

Six players scored touchdowns for Boyd-Buchanan, including a 37-yard run by Isaiah Dillard, a 64-yard run by Michael Mincey and a 39-yard run by Jeremy Borders. Borders, Dillard and E.J. Matthews all finished with 50-plus rushing yards.

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