Boyd-Buchanan proved to be bigger, faster, stronger and – most importantly – more experienced than Chattanooga Christian in their football game Friday night.
The Buccaneers wore down CCS in the second half of a 32-3 win over the Chargers in the season opener for both teams.
“Our kids grew up as the game went on and we had to find ourselves, and we were in pretty good shape and that showed in the fourth quarter,” Boyd-Buchanan coach Grant Reynolds said. “We hung on to the ball, we didn’t have too many mental mistakes and hopefully we won’t make those in our next game against Red Bank.”
Bucs junior running back Chase Reed scored three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter to deflate the Chargers. He had 88 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards.
The Bucs gained 183 of their 287 rushing yards in the second half. Senior Hayden Meadows had 122 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
“We have four guys who are capable running backs, and our quarterbacks can run too,” Reynolds said. “We just put the fresh ones in there.”
Meadows had most of his yards in the first half, and then Reed and Rock Hood – who had 32 yards and a touchdown – had most of the carries in the second half.
“In the first half we didn’t come out great,” Hood said. “In the fourth quarter, we knew they were tired and worn down. So we pushed and pushed.”
The Chargers proved they have improved in just their second season of varsity competition. One year ago, in the season opener between the same two teams, Boyd-Buchanan led 28-0 at the end of the first quarter.
But Beau Simmons kicked a 22-yard field goal on the second play of the first quarter to give CCS a lead over the Bucs, who remained scoreless until the final 30 seconds of the half. Reed scored from 3 yards out to give Boyd-Buchanan a 7-3 at halftime.
Bucs linebacker Austin Hall made a game-changing play when he intercepted Levi Corbett on the second play of the second half. Meadows scored five plays later to start a string of 25 unanswered points.
“We were strong in the beginning; then we weren’t ready to play four quarters yet,” said Corbett, who had 91 passing yards on 26 attempts. “We have to keep our heads together when things start going south.”