Lee Trawick
reporter2@riverbendnews.org
After a disappointing performance in their preseason jamboree, the Buccaneers were eager to start the regular season on a higher note. On Friday, Aug. 25, Branford High School honored its seniors before they took on the Cedar Creek Christian Saints.
In last season's matchup on the road, the Bucs had to rally from behind late in the game to overtake the Saints. Therefore, Buccaneer Nation did not know what to expect: However, head Coach Tim Clark had confidence in his team.
It took only a short time for the Buccaneers to ensure there would not be a repeat of last season. Their defense made quick work of the opposing offense, and forced them to punt after three plays. The Bucs took over on the Saints' 47-yard line. Quarterback Thomas Sikes only needed two plays to lead his team to the endzone, where he found Austin Malaguti for a short pass. Malaguti took one quick step and turned upfield to find the endzone from 20- yards out, giving the Buccaneers an early 7-0 lead after the extra point was added by Hector Velasquez.
This time, Malaguti and the Buccaneers would strike again from special teams when he broke free on the Saints' second punt of the game. Malaguti caught the retrieved punt, and outran the opposition to the endzone, giving the Bucs a 13-0 lead after a missed extra point.
While still in the first quarter, Malaguti struck again when Sikes connected with his receiver for a 40-yard touchdown. He then converted the Buccaneer's two-point conversion after a botched extra-point attempt to bring the score to 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
It was more of the same in the second quarter, but different faces. Arkyvion Jones and Kyshaun Veasey shined bright, scoring two long touchdowns. The first came on another Saints punt when Veasey received the ball on the Bucs' 47-yard line and cut through the defenders. He followed his blockers before breaking free of the crowd and made it a foot race to the endzone for a 53-yard touchdown return. Later, in the second quarter, Sikes dropped back and found Jones open for a short pass that he turned into a 49- yard touchdown.
Also in the second quarter, the Buccaneers' defense began to impose their will over the Saints, causing two turnovers. The first came from Colby Carver when he intercepted a pass to give possession of the ball back to the Buccaneers. The second turnover came late in the quarter when Thomas Raulerson recovered a fumble, allowing the Bucs one last possession on the Saints 35-yard-line. Trevor Maddox capped off the drive, with seconds remaining in the half, with a one-yard touchdown run up the middle to make the score 41-0.
Jones opened the second half with his second touchdown of the night when he scampered 49 yards to the Bucs endzone. With the score 47-0, the
cannons were not done firing for the night. Jones would later find the endzone from 53- yards out to account for his third touchdown of the night. Sikes finished the game passing for 158 yards with three touchdowns, while completing six of seven passes on the night.
The Bucs' stout defense pitched their first shutout of the season by holding the Saints to less than 100 yards of total offense while earning two takeaways along the way.
The Buccaneers will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 1, as they travel to Jacksonville to take on the Duval Charter Panthers at 4:30 p.m. The
Panthers are coming off a devastating loss against Christ Church Academy, 48-0.