Late Game Surge Allows Buffs To Claim Key Win In Overtime Saturday
April 30, 2023 Brian Ptashinski
DRUMS - On a crisp chilly overcast Saturday afternoon at the Valley Chiefs Field the Mustangs and Buffaloes provided the few dozen fans to quite a show in a highly-contested Great Eastern Football Association 8-man semipro football game. In the end the Buffaloes came out victorious 48-47. The Buffs move to 5-1 on the season, while the Mustangs dropped their third game in a row and are now 2-5.
The game was a back and forth contest as each team traded scores in the opening half, with the Buffaloes holding a 26-20 lead at intermission. Levi Cook, quarterback of the Buffaloes had himself quite a game both throwing and running the ball as he opened the scoring on a six yard run making it 7-0.
Not to be outdone, the Mustangs QB 6'6 275 lb. Brock Mitchell led his team downfield where RB Adrian Otero scored from a yard out and with a two-point try good left the score at 8-7 at the end of the quarter.
With the Mustangs backed up near their own goal line and facing a 4th down a high snap on the punt caused ball to fall in the end zone where Cory Myers fell on the ball giving the Buffs the lead at 14-7.
After another exchange of scores, the Mustangs would find the enbd zone right before half as Mitchell found Munir Hanif in the corner of the end zone, Munif made a diving catch to complete the 14 yard score.
The Mustangs grabbed the lead in the third quarter when Mitchell connected with Davion Reeves in the corner of the end zone for a 27-26 lead.
A scoop and score for the Mustangs defense as they recovered a Buffaloes fumble made it 33-27 then a Mitchell touchdown extended the home teams lead to 40-27 in the final quarter.
But Cook and the potent Buffaloes offense were not finished as he found WR Andre Dokes from five yards out to trim the margin to 40-33.
After another defensive stand the Buffaloes got the ball back and Cook capped of the drive with a one yard score to tie the game at 40 in the waning minutes of the game.
Each team had a chance to settle the game in regulation, but neither team could score and the game would go into overtime. The Mustangs got the ball first starting at the 20. They picked up a crucial first down before Mitchell would bull his way into the end zone and they made the conversion for a 47-40 lead.
The GEFA uses college football rules in extra time, so the Buffaloes had a chance to match the Mustangs score. They also started on the 20 and picked up a first down to keep hopes alive. Then from the two yard line Cook barely crossed the goal line as he dove in to make it 47-46. They decided to go for the win from the five where again Cook ran to his left and again just made it inside the pylon for the conversion and the 48-47 win.
The Buffaloes(5-1) will be on the road next week against the 0-6 Somerset County Miners who lost the the Susquehanna Valley Bolts 30-26 Saturday. The Mustangs (2-4) try to snap a three game skid as the host the undefeated Lancaster County Cyclones (7-0) as they smothered the Berks County Raptors 72-44.
