By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The East Buchanan football team still hasn't lost a game ever since taking a 24-19 defeat at Savannah last September.
The Bulldogs welcomed the Savages to Gower this year, and won their 14th straight game overall with a 14-0 shutout victory on Friday night at East Buchanan High School.
Savannah kicked off to start the game, and a somewhat shallow kick was fielded on the run by East Buchanan's Mason Brown, who ran it all the way to the Savages' 37-yard line.
Two plays later, senior running back Trevor Klein punched it in with a 16-yard touchdown run to put East Buchanan up 7-0 with 11:09 to go in the first quarter.
That score wouldn't change for quite awhile.
Savannah (1-1) moved 68 yards on 13 plays on its opening drive, but a fourth-and-goal run play by running back Cade Chappell was stood up at the one-yard-line and the Savages turned the ball over on downs.
East Buchanan (2-0) had its woes on offense, too at times. On the Bulldogs' second possession of the game, senior quarterback Gage Busby was picked off by Savannah's Parker Brayley.
Only for Savannah quarterback Aiden Knechtenhofer to lose a fumble seven plays later in East Buchanan territory. Kyler Paxton forced it and Mason Brown recovered it.
The Bulldogs had three offensive possessions in the second quarter. Two of them were three-and-out. The last one saw East Buchanan get into Savannah territory, but the Bulldogs only had 46 seconds to work with and no timeouts.
Time expired and East Buchanan went into the locker room up 7-0.
Savannah got the ball to start the second half and once again showed the ability to string together a long drive.
The Savages marched 58 yards on 14 plays, running off nearly seven minutes of clock to start the third quarter. Only for the drive to end in turnover on downs at the East Buchanan 25.
Savannah got into the red zone on that drive, but holding penalties pushed them back. That, and sacks from Aidan Hensley and Wyatt Parker.
East Buchanan didn't go on offense in the second half until there was 5:08 left in the third quarter. The Bulldogs played some keep-away themselves, moving 76 yards on nine plays.
Mason Brown had a 57-yard reception to get the Bulldogs to within striking distance.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Klein lined up in the wildcat formation and ran at full speed straight ahead into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown. A Gavin Utz point-after made it 14-0 Bulldogs with 11:56 remaining.
Savannah had two more possessions in the fourth quarter. One ended in punt after five plays.
The Savages took over one last time on their own 26 with 4:36 left and once again got deep into East Buchanan territory, but the drive stalled and the Bulldogs took over on downs with just over two minutes left.
A couple of run plays and a kneel down by Busby ran out the remaining time.
Klein finished with 65 yards on 17 carries and two scores. Busby was 10-of-18 through the air for 160 yards and an interception. Brown caught six passes for 107 yards. Aidan Hensley caught two passes for 32 yards.
Knechtenhofer completed 16-of-23 passes for 145 yards. He also rushed for 41 yards on 20 attempts. He was sacked twice. Chappell finished with 81 yards rushing on 16 carries.
Zayden Snapp caught seven passes for 88 yards for the Savages. Jaiden Martinez had six grabs for 24 yards.
East Buchanan is at North Platte next Friday. Savannah is home to Kirksville.
Dan Ritter interview
Mason Brown interview
Full broadcast of the second half
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