The Marshfield Blue Jays won a hard-fought battle against the Buffalo Bison, 18-13, in a game that almost didn’t happen Friday night in Marshfield.
Storm clouds loomed and lightning streaked the sky, threatening the matchup between the two conference foes. But both teams were eager to hit the field with something to prove.
The Bison came in off a two-game win streak looking for their first conference win, but the Blue Jays wanted it more—needing the victory to put themselves back at .500 on the season.
Marshfield coach Nate Thomas said his team was prepared for Buffalo’s tenacity after watching the Bison come back for their win in Week 3.
“We told our team that these guys are not going to lay down and die,” Thomas said. “We talked about it during the week that we were going to be in a fight for four quarters and we made sure at halftime that we were ready to come out and finish the game and they did a good job of it.”
PHOTOS: MARSHFIELD VS. BUFFALO
It was a clash of defenses through much of the first quarter until Marshfield was able to get the ball in the end zone with 3:34 in the quarter. After being stopped just short of the goal line, Kaleb Kracman took the ball the short distance for first score.
That gave the Blue Jays the momentum they needed headed into the second quarter. Cole Mitchell intercepted a Bison pass to set up Garrett Nunnally’s monster 84-yard touchdown run to double Marshfield’s score, 12-0.
“I caught the snap, saw the hole and turned it up the sideline,” Nunnally said. “There were great blocks by the O-line and everything worked out.”
That would be Nunnally’s final play of the game after suffering a concussion that took him out of play. He said after talking to the trainer he expects to be back on the field by next Friday.
Buffalo, despite driving the ball down the field a handful of times, was unable to get on the scoreboard until the end of the third quarter. Kyle Cooley connected with Levi Phillips for a 16-yard touchdown and Federico Poli’s kick cut the Blue Jay lead to 5.
“Our cornerstones are attitude and effort and their giving it,” said Buffalo coach Mark Jackson. “We were down twelve to nothing and we didn’t quit, didn’t get frustrated, we kept playing and I was pleased with that.”
The Bison forced a 3-and-out on Marshfield’s next possession and it seemed momentum was swinging in their favor until Kaleb Kracman ran in for his second touchdown of the night to make it a two-score game.
Buffalo’s Cooley answered with a 44-yard bomb down the field to put the Bison in scoring position, but a turnover put the ball back in the Marshfield’s hands. However, a Blue Jays' turnover would give the ball back to the Bison and this time Buffalo capitalized with a 12-yard pass to Austin Starkey in the end zone.
The Bison seemed primed for their second comeback win in a row, but penalties and clock issues compounded to contribute to their loss and the Blue Jays held on to win at home, 18-13.
“We’re capable of playing much better,” said Jackson. “We’re capable of not making as many mistakes. We’re capable of better execution on offense and not having bad fits on defense. I’m proud of my kids and I’m proud of the fact that we’re 2-2, I just wish we were 3-1.”
In Week 3, Buffalo came back to beat Diamond 34-33 after trailing 28-6 early in the game. The victory marked the first win for the Bison against a team that wasn’t Pleasant Hope or Hollister since 2011.
“The comeback last week gave the kids a reason to believe,” Jackson said.
The Bison will travel to Hollister next week, still looking for their first conference win of the season with the chance to gain back their winning record.
Marshfield hopes to improve their record with another conference win against rival Logan-Rogersville at home next Friday.
Marshfield 18, Buffalo 13
Marshfield 6-6-0-6—18
Buffalo 0-0-7-6—13
First quarter
Marshfield-Kaleb Kracman 1-yard run (kick fail)
Second quarter
Marshfield-Garrett Nunnally 84-yard run (kick fail)
Third quarter
Buffalo-Kyle Cooley 16-yard pass to Levi Phillips (Federico Poli kick)
Fourth quarter
Marshfield-Kaleb Kracman 24-yard run (pass fail)
Buffalo-Kyle Cooley 12-yard pass to Austin Starkey (pass fail)
