The Bowling Green Buccaneers opened the 2022 football season last Friday with a win over the Centreville Academy Tigers. After a summer of hard work and preparation, Coach Phill Junkins’ Buccaneers squad overcame a one point deficit in the second half to earn a 28-16 victory. Senior running back Josiah Miller sprinted 80 yards late in the fourth quarter to put the game away for the Bucs.
Bowling Green scored on their first possession of the game. Kyron Cowart took a handoff and sprinted around the right side for a 44 yard touchdown run. The seven play drive was capped off with a successful extra point by Alex Brock to give the Bucs an early 7-0 lead.
The remainder of the first half featured stingy defenses and fumbles from both sides. The Tigers intercepted a BGS pass at the Buccaneers 28. Two plays later Centreville took advantage with a 21 yard touchdown pass to get on the scoreboard. A two-point conversation attempt failed. Neither team scored again in the first half and the Bucs held a 7-6 lead at the half.
Centreville received the kickoff to open the second half. The Tigers drove 65 yards in five plays and scored on a 25 yard touchdown pass. Another try for two failed, but CA claimed their first lead of the game at 12-7.
The Bucs took over on the their own 35 after the ensuing kickoff. Freshman running back Christian Williams ran 15 yards for a touchdown 10 plays later to cap off the drive. The extra point kick was blocked, but BGS regained a 13-12 lead at 5:53 remaining in the third.
Centreville reached the Bucs 15 yard line late in the third quarter. After a mishandled snap by the Tigers quarterback, the Bucs Dray Killingsworth forced a throw that was picked off by Bowling Green’s Ben Galloway. The junior safety returned the ball to the Bucs 20 yard line. Miller took the handoff on first down and rambled to the five where a face mask penalty moved the line of scrimmage inside the three. Using a “heavy package”, offensive lineman Bryce Graham lined up at fullback where he took the handoff and bowled into the end zone. The snap on the extra point was bad and the kick was no good. The score increased the lead to 19-12 with 26 seconds left in the third.
Following the ensuing kickoff, Centreville went on a time-consuming drive that started at their 15. The Tigers found the end zone with 3:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. A personal foul penalty after the touchdown moved the ball to the 18 for the two point attempt. The CA quarterback was sacked and the Bucs held onto a 19-18 lead.
A touchback on the kickoff put the ball at the BGS 20. On first down, Miller took a handoff and the 230 pound back outran Tigers defenders for an 80 touchdown. Brock converted the extra point as the Bucs outscored Centreville to earn the season-opening win.
“Kids played with great effort and heart,” said Coach Junkins. “Josiah ran it great. The line played well for the most part. Got a lot to clean up before we play Tri-County. They are a great opponent and are ranked #2 in Class 4A. We will need to be disciplined and determined to win this one.”
Josiah Miller gained 148 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown, Kyron Cowart carried 9 times for 108 yards and a touchdown, Christian Williams scored once on 4 carries for 29 yards and Bryce Graham had a touchdown and gained 7 yards on a pair of carries. L.J. Jenkins completed 3 of 5 passes for 41 yards.
Defensively, Miller, Cowart and Morgan Verret each had 7 tackles, Dray Killingsworth and Bryce Graham had 5 tackles, Trey Champagne, Camrin Seal and Maverick McElveen had 4 and Williams, Deviun Bickham, Zeke Burford and Maddox Magee all finished with 2.
This Friday the Bucs travel to Flora, Mississippi to face the Rebels of Tri-County Academy.
