BUFFALO – A long bus ride by the Torrington High School Blazers football team to Buffalo ended in a 46-14 conference defeat against the Bison on Friday, October 11.
Buffalo established a 17-6 lead in the first quarter. Torrington fought back with a touchdown and PAT-2 in the second quarter while a determined Blazers defense shut out the Bison for the remainder of the first half.
A competitive second quarter closed with Buffalo only ahead by three points, 17-14, at halftime.
The Bison came out strong in the second half and scored three touchdowns in the third quarter and one in the fourth to take control of the scoreboard.
“In the first half, we were right in it and that was with one touchdown called back due to a penalty,” coach Russell Stienmetz said. “We need to be more disciplined and can’t have those points taken off the board. Unforeseen injuries in the second half allowed Buffalo to pull away. We had to put in younger kids with less experience. Overall, in the first half, we faced adversity getting behind the sticks but we were able to pick up some key first downs. We just need to carry that forward.”
A tale of two halves
A solid Torrington defense slowed Buffalo’s opening drive in the first quarter with tackles by seniors Brendan Woodard and Landre Greiman and pass coverage from senior Colby Sandusky.
The Bison opted for a field goal to put three points on the scoreboard.
Buffalo found itself in possession a second time in the first half and the Bison reached the end zone for their first touchdown. Buffalo kicked the extra point and pulled ahead, 10-0.
The Blazers fired back on their subsequent possession. Junior quarterback Drew Kramer chewed up 32 yards on the first play. Greiman, stepping in as quarterback, launched the ball to Kramer on the next play. Kramer sprinted into the end zone to complete a 78-yard touchdown pass play.
Torrington put a significant dent into Buffalo’s lead, 17-6, as the second quarter commenced.
A tenacious Blazers D-line prevented Buffalo from scoring in the second quarter. On the Bison’s first drive, a deep punt by senior Holden Hackett set the Bison up at their own seven-yard line.
A tackle for loss by senior Xavier Sanchez forced Buffalo to punt.
Buffalo regained possession midway into the second quarter. Sophomore Brandt Eichenberger swept in with a tackle for loss. Pass coverage by Greiman and senior Conner Correll resulted in an incomplete pass.
Buffalo attempted to pass again, but Greiman leapt up for the interception. Shifting into high gear, Greiman raced into the end zone for a pick six of 35 yards.
Kramer completed a pass to Greiman in the end zone to convert the two extra points and Torrington came within three points of overtaking Buffalo, 17-14.
The Blazers defense hammered away at Buffalo on the Bison’s ensuing drive. Sanchez and Gross made a tackle for loss and Correll intercepted a pass.
The Blazers shut out Buffalo’s final attempt to score in the second quarter with tackles by Sanchez, Sandusky, Gross, sophomore Garrett Hager, senior Brady Dagen and Woodard.
The Blazers took possession with 50 seconds remaining in the first half. Passes between Kramer and Greiman and Dagen placed the Blazers in Buffalo territory.
Torrington ultimately came up short in reaching the end zone and the first half ended with Buffalo up, 17-14.
The Bison dominated the third quarter with touchdowns on each of their three possessions to pull ahead, 39-14.
The Torrington offense found its footing again in the fourth quarter. Several passes between Kramer and junior Asher Bumgaurdner and Kramer and Dagen resulted in first downs.
Another deep punt by Hacket for 72 yards sent the ball into the end zone to set the Bison up at their own 20-yard line. Tackles from Hager and freshman Taven Reimers prevented Buffalo from gaining more than a few yards.
Stats
The Blazers picked up 76 yards rushing against Buffalo, led by Kramer with 65 yards on 13 carries. Kramer completed 15 passes for 73 yards. Dagen caught six passes for 53 yards. Bumgaurdner reeled in three passes for 28 yards and Sandusky three for 24 yards.
Hackett collected 195 yards on six punts. The senior also kicked off three times for 111 yards.
Defensively, Woodard led with 18 points, six tackles, one for loss and one pass breakup. Greiman tallied 14 defensive points with three tackles, one fumble recovery and an interception. Gross finished with 13.5 defensive points, six tackles and one for loss.
Sandusky contributed 10 tackles and Sanchez eight. Correll made two tackles, broke up one pass and intercepted the ball once. Kramer totaled five tackles and one pass breakup.
