ESCALON – It took 48 minutes and nine overtimes Wednesday night but when the dust settled at Engel Field, Terra Bucanan’s quarterback keeper proved to be the difference in a 25-19 thriller over host Escalon in non-league flag football action.
Bucanan (4 of 5 passing, 21 yards; four carries 15 yards) stepped in for an injured Lily Dundas (14 of 24 passing, 164 yards, two touchdowns) after halftime, and scored both touchdowns for the Buffaloes (5-2) in overtime – the first in the opening period on a 5-yard run and the second in the eighth round on a 3-yard plunge.
“That last touchdown felt great,” Bucanan said. “I’m normally not the QB, and I had to step up and fight for my team.”
The Cougars (2-1) had one more chance after Bucanan’s thrilling run and Jaelyn Rosas stepped up for Manteca and pulled the flag just outside the end zone to seal the win.
“I had made a couple of mistakes throughout the game,” Rosas said. “So I was really focused on that last play because I felt like I owed it to the team to pull that flag and not give up no matter what.”
Myah Hater (five receptions, 93 yards, two touchdowns) pulled in touchdown throws of 19 and 40 yards from Dundas.
“Today was perfect,” Hayter said. “Even though I was a bit anxious because we do have some players out. I wanted to make sure we could fight for them and do the best we could and do what we practice.”
Kamari Williams tallied 42 yards on six receptions for the Buffaloes – including a conversion catch. Sari Lawson pulled five flags and Sam Lopez added four pulls.
“We have been preaching on fighting through adversity,” Manteca coach William Riddick said. “We knew there was going to be a time when we would have to fight through some things and today we fought through some key injuries and a lot of people stepped up and did a job they normally wouldn’t have to do, especially a freshman (Bucanan) that doesn’t play quarterback.”
Escalon’s Kenley Koops pulled in a 13-yard scoring pass from Bretta Brooks and Georgia Northcutt scampered 45 yards for the other Cougars score in regulation. Northcutt added a 10-yard touchdown run in overtime.
The Buffaloes host Sierra to kick off Valley Oak League play Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.
