Huge defensive play turns the game in Buffalo’s favor.
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The Buffalo Bison had been in control of their Friday night game on the road at Eastview all game. Up by as much as fourteen, they had led wire-to-wire late into the third quarter. However, a Lightning touchdown drive –…
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Continue ReadingThe Buffalo Bison had been in control of their Friday night game on the road at Eastview all game. Up by as much as fourteen, they had led wire-to-wire late into the third quarter. However, a Lightning touchdown drive – capped off by a short Damon Green Damon Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Eastview | 2024 State MN touchdown run – had cut the lead to just two points. That was followed by a highlight reel interception by the Lightning’s Owen Johnson. Eastview moved inside the ten-yard line. On the verge of taking their first lead, an Eastview receiver tipped a pass just short of the goal line. The ball bounced into the hands of Buffalo linebacker Wyatt Osterbauer Wyatt Osterbauer 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Buffalo | 2024 State MN . One hundred three yards later, the senior was in the end zone, and his team had a two-score lead.
“My read was run first, so I made sure they weren’t running it,” Osterbauer said. “The ball got tipped up on a crossing route to the tight end. It came right to me. I had blocks, so I was able to make a play and take it to the house.”
Early, it looked like the Bison would be fine without a 14-point swing play to secure their 33-18 victory.
Bison quarterback Ky Kelvie Ky Kelvie 5'8" | 160 lbs | QB Buffalo | 2024 State MN did an excellent job moving the pocket and throwing precise, short passes to move the chains on the game’s first drive. Deep in Lightning territory, Kelvie hit wide receiver Gauge Alsen on another underneath throw, but this time, Alsen was able to get up the sidelines and get into the end zone from 25 yards out.
Buffalo’s defense would quickly get the ball back to their offense. Eastview decided to go for it on fourth and short near mid-field. Bison defensive tackle Hans Pederson Hans Pederson 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Buffalo | 2026 State MN exploded into the backfield to drop the Eastview runner behind the line of scrimmage. The offense would cash in.
Kelvie continued to look good on the move. His throw to wide receiver Nolan Mahannah on a ten-yard comeback or hook route turned into a twenty-five-yard catch and run down to the one-yard line. Kelvie was in the end zone a play later, and the Bison had a 14-0 lead.
Eastview would answer in a big way. A pair of big runs put the offense in the red zone for the first time. Quarterback Grayson Osberg Grayson Osberg 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Eastview | 2024 MN found Nick Brandt on a fade route for a twelve-yard touchdown.
Buffalo’s offense kept doing what it had the entire first half – putting Kelvie on the move and having him pick apart the defense with short to mid-range throws. Faced with a fourth and six at the twenty-five, Kelvie used his legs to move the chains. It would not be the last time they would have to convert on a fourth down on the drive. On fourth and goal from the fourteen, new quarterback Grady Guida rolled to his left and threw into the end zone to Mahannah, who made the catch for the touchdown.
Eastview’s defense would make a stop on a fourth down at mid-field. The Lightning would quickly face their own fourth down. Osberg threw a pass to the sidelines, and Cooper Desutter Cooper Desutter 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Eastview | 2024 State MN made a one-handed catch, got a foot down in bounds, and moved the chains. With 50 seconds to go, Eastview faced another fourth down – this time with less than a minute to play in the half. The offensive line did just enough to keep the drive alive. With eleven seconds to go in the half, Osberg would find Juju Stampley Jr. over the middle for an eleven-yard touchdown with eleven seconds to play in the half.
Desutter would make a second highlight reel play with a catch on a deep post route. Two defenders were all over the senior, but he made a great contested catch for a first down. Not to be outdone, wide receiver Danny McGrath made a toe-tapping sideline catch inside the ten-yard line to set up another critical fourth down. Green would take an inside handoff up the middle to make it a one-score game.
Momentum was all on the home team’s side – especially with Johnson’s athletic interception – but Osterbauer’s pick-six flipped the game on its head.
Eastview’s offense wasn’t ready to concede. They were on the move, but Alsen picked off an under-thrown pass.
Buffalo would start a time-consuming, soul-crushing drive. Eastview’s defense almost got off the field, but on fourth and short at mid-field, Guida was dead to rights behind the line of scrimmage, but an impressive spin move kept him free to pick up the first down. Guida would pay off the drive with a short touchdown run to give the Bison a two-score lead and eventually a 33-18 victory. It was the third straight win for Buffalo, putting them at 3-1 for the season. Eastview dropped back to .500 at 2-2.