Buffalos' wins against Eagles, Wildcats put team back on track

Buffalo running back Parker Schwarz clears the Wildcats' secondary on his way to a touchdown early in Friday's game against Burlington. Prairie View's all-time leading rusher added 184 rushing yards and three touchdowns to his record in the game. (Photos by Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By David Heidrick

Journal contributor

The Prairie View Buffalos opened the season in dominating fashion against Osawatomie, scoring a school record 71 points in a game, and that was done by halftime. The Buffs were feeling pretty good heading into a week two showdown with an underrated Santa Fe Trail team and were thoroughly outplayed, losing by 15 points. That led to Week 3 and the always tough Wellsville Eagles.

The Eagles were ranked third in ultra-deep Class 3A, Prairie View was coming off a devastating loss at home to a league opponent. Few knew what to expect out of the Buffalos.

However, it was immediately clear, Prairie View was the better team. They crushed the Eagles from the opening kick of the game. The game was not as close as the final score of 42-35 would suggest.

Week 4 was homecoming and it seemed like the Buffaloes had righted the ship after the debacle against the Chargers. A familiar league foe, the Burlington Wildcats, were the opponent. The Wildcats are typically a tough group and always put up a fight. Not this year.

Buffalo quarterback Wyatt Attebery gains rushing yards on a keeper. The senior carried the ball seven times for 29 yards, and completed 2 passes on 4 attempts and no interceptions. His target: Josh Goodwin for 57 yards including a touchdown. Parker Schwarz had 8 solos and 3 assists.

The Buffalos put up nearly triple the rushing yardage and nearly double the total offense of Burlington, and did it on fewer plays. The senior class is proving to be quite formidable.

Parker Schwarz did his usual thing on the ground, putting up 184 yards on 16 carries for three touchdowns. He was also devastating from his middle linebacker spot. 11 total tackles, two for loss, two forced fumbles and a pass break up.

Josh Goodwin chipped in with two touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air, eight tackles, one for loss, and a pass break up.

Jay Muse had a strong night, gaining 74 rushing yards on only five carries, and a 69-yard run for a touchdown. The senior also contributed three tackles including one for loss, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.

Buffalo defensive back Jay Muse (2) wraps up Wildcat back Hunter Cole as Hunter McCool (23) and Josh Goodwin (35) come in as backup. Muse was credited with 3 solo tackles, McCool had 2 solos and 1 assist (including one sack for a 10 yard loss, and Goodwin had 5 solos and 3 assists.

Wyatt Attebery was solid, rushing for one touchdown while throwing for 57 yards and a touchdown, all to Goodwin.

Burlington started the game going three and out. The Buffalos responded with a 49-yard touchdown run from Schwarz. The Wildcats lost the ball after 10 plays, with Schwarz forcing a fumble by popping the ball out and Muse falling on it. Schwarz then put up his second score of the game from 26 yards out.

Burlington went 72 yards for a touchdown and Muse got his hand on the kick. The first play of rhe next drive saw Muse racing 69 yards for a huge touchdown. The Wildcats went four and out to end the first quarter with Prairie View leading 20-6. 

Schwarz got his third touchdown on the first play of the next drive, this one from just 28 yards out after Burlington gave the ball up on downs. The struggles continued for the Wildcats, and they only advanced the ball 10 yards on seven plays thanks to a personal foul against the Buffalos that extended the drive.

Both squads looked out of sorts on their respective drives, with the Buffs going four and out and the Wildcats going three and out. Back to basics with Schwarz carrying on six of the next eight plays and the ninth play was Attebery finding a wide-open Goodwin in the end zone. The halftime score was 34-6, with the home team completely dominating the action.

Burlington attempted an onside kick to start the second half. Prairie View recovered and took advantage of the short field, going 49 yard, and Goodwin plunged into the end zone. Hunter McCool followed up with a sack on fourth down to end Burlington's 13-yard drive. 

Prairie View inched down the short field, going 31 yards yards for the Buffalos final score. Starters came out after that. Burlington put up one more touchdown, giving the Buffalos 3-1 record with a final score of 49-13.

The Buffalos are on the road on Friday, Oct. 3, traveling to Humboldt. The Cubs, a Class 2A team, are 1-3 going into Friday's game.