Buffalos roll past Bulldogs; Schwarz surpasses 6,000 career rushing yards
- David Heidrick
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
By David Heidrick
Journal contributor
There was a palpable energy in the atmosphere at Prairie View's stadium on Friday night, Oct. 10. In a pre-game ceremony, the Prairie View Buffalos honored their senior participants in fall activities. Hoping to add a win to their record, the Buffalos welcomed the Anderson County Bulldogs.
Prairie View’s record stood at 4-1 while the Bulldogs sported a 3-2 mark. The Buffalos were receiving votes in several media outlet polls. However, the big story was that head coach Jason Spradling was relieved of his duty before the game and assistant coach Joe Cullor was named interim head coach on Wednesday, giving him two days to prepare.
Two days was more than he needed. The scoring was early and often, led by the vaunted ground attack of the home team. The all-senior backfield of quarterback Wyatt Attebery, Jay Muse, Josh Goodwin, and Parker Schwarz was averaging over 350 rushing yards per game, one of the top marks in the state. Schwarz came in fourth in the state in rushing yards per game, needing just a handful to cross the 6,000-yard barrier.
The Bulldogs put up little resistance. After a hold on the initial play, Schwarz burst down the right side for 72 yards for a touchdown. On their first possession, the Bulldogs went three-and-out. The Buffalos found the end zone in three plays on the next drive. After a 7-yard run from Schwarz, Attebery found Will Caldwell on the right sideline for a highlight-reel, 29-yard, tip-toe catch with a defender all over him. The crowd went wild and they stayed up as Schwarz dashed 41 yards for a second touchdown. The rout was on.
Anderson County tried to keep up, with a 31-yard run, but their drive ended at the Prairie View 29 yard line after freshman Gabe Moore picked off a pass. The four Buffalo backfield seniors took turns toting the rock, Goodwin led the way with 19 yards, but the drive stalled after Schwarz was stripped and lost the ball.
The Bulldogs' drive was short-lived, though. Unable to mount any offense, they punted back to Prairie View.
Second quarter began with a bang. Goodwin took it 54 yards to the house, breaking several tackles and getting the fans back up on their feet again. The Bulldogs did their best to quiet the home crowd with a methodical, 10-play, 67 yard drive that resulted in a Buffalo interception and defensive touchdown.
Attebery displayed his speed, intercepting a pass at the 21 yard line and racing it all the way back for a 28-0 lead. A quick 3-out led to another scoring drive for the home squad.
Schwarz picked up 20 yards on a run, then followed that up with an epic, 40-yard jaunt. He looked unstoppable, breaking eight tackles on his way to the end zone, dragging the final defender on his foot before popping free.
With the flood gates opened, the Buffalos called an onside kick, and Chance Briggs recovered. Goodwin picked up 11 yards and from there, Schwarz put it in the end zone again from 51 yards out. The Bulldogs again went 3-out, with the final play taking the game to half time with Prairie ahead 43-0.
Anderson County took the second half kickoff and moved the ball well, with four different plays netting at least 10 yards. However the drive stalled again near the Buffalo red zone.
Prairie View's backfield went to work again. Schwarz and Goodwin took turns bludgeoning the Bulldogs, picking up almost 80 yards between the two of them. Schwarz found the end zone for the fifth and final time. That score made it a running clock situation. The third quarter ended with both teams only possessing the ball once.
From there, the game was basically over. The Bulldogs scored in three plays against the Buffalo bench. The Buffalos went three-out, and the Bulldogs followed suit with the game ending in a 49-8 Prairie View victory.
Some of the numbers were staggering. Parker Schwarz led the team with 330 yards and five touchdowns, all on the ground. Josh Goodwin went over the century mark on just six carries.
Senior Will Caldwell led the team with six tackles from his corner spot. Senior Johnny Colin showed out with six tackles of his own, 2.5 for loss.
The team put up 469 yards rushing, 493 total offense.
The Buffalos travel to Girard on October 17 and the Bulldogs welcome the Chargers of Santa Fe Trail. The Prairie View-Girard matchup pits the top two teams in 3A District 2, both sitting at 2-0 after week six.
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