Buffaloes down Mustangs for home field victory

by Roger Mannon
Sports Editor

Floyd County finally got a home football victory. The Buffaloes, who had lost the previous four home games by narrow margins, defeated Eastern Montgomery 27-12 at Floyd Friday, October 23.
An appreciative crowd also observed Parents’ Night/Senior Night, enduring a driving rain for much of the game.
Floyd failed to score on the first three possessions, even wasting an interception by Ryan Yates that gave the Buffs the ball at the Mustang 46. That possession ended on downs.
EastMont failed to move the ball and a high snap on the punt attempt gave Floyd the ball on downs at the three.
Dorian Harris went in to score on the next play. Nelson Morales’ PAT kick was wide left, and Floyd led 6-0 at 3:16.
EastMont stuck Floyd a the nine with the next punt late in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, Caz Cantrell hit Cole Peters with a nine- yard pass on third and ten and on fourth and one got the first down on a two-yard keeper to the Floyd 37.
On the next play, Harris got free on a 63-yard touchdown run. Morales converted the PAT kick, and Floyd led 13-0 at 9:30.
A squib kick gave the Mustangs the ball at their 49. Michael Shelor had a 21-yard run to the 31.
Two plays later Shawn Christian threw a 31- yard touchdown pass to Brad Wooten. The PAT pass was incomplete, and Floyd led 13-6 at 7:59.
Christian intercepted a Cantrell pass with 3:50 remaining, but EastMont didn’t get a first down on their final three possessions of the half.
On the Mustang’s second possession of the third quarter, Cantrell intercepted a Christian pass to give Floyd the ball at the EastMont 47. Floyd lost yardage on the first series, but a roughing the punter penalty on fourth and 23 gave the Buffaloes a new set of downs.
A pair of offsides penalties against the Mustangs added another first down. Cantrell threw for Keifer Titus, who made a sliding catch at the 18.
Brandon Harris had two carries to get the ball to the six. On third and goal at the six, Cantrell hit Daniel Bradford just at the right pylon for a touchdown.  The PAT kick was blocked, and Floyd led 19-6 at 3:44.
EastMont responded in less than a minute and a half, with Christian going 24 yards on a quarterback keeper. The PAT failed, and Floyd led 19-12 at 2;29.
The Buffaloes came back with a drive, alternating Chandler Jones up the middle and D. Harris outside. Jones got five, Harris 11, Jones 5, Harris 17 and Jones five on the final play of the third quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, D. Harris ran 17 yards for his third touchdown. Cantrell hit Bradford on the PAT pass, and Floyd led 27-12 at 11:53.
The Mustangs tried to answer with a drive starting at the 34. On fourth and 20, Christian hit Julian Stewart with a 39-yard completion to the 11.
Two plays later, Christian fumbled and Matt Link recovered at the eight. Floyd picked up three first downs and used over five minutes before Peters punted the ball to the 12 at 1:51.
A tackle by Nate Coartney behind the line turned out to be the final play of the game.