STANTON – The Stanton Buffaloes overcame a slow start to get their first district win of the season with an impressive comeback performance for a 30-17 victory over Coahoma, Friday night at Buffalo Stadium in Stanton.
The first offensive and defensive possessions for Stanton ended miserably. On offense the drive ended with an interception. Then on defense, a pass interference penalty on fourth down gave Coahoma life and a touchdown on the next play.
On its second possession, Stanton would drive all the way to Coahoma’s goal line only to be denied four times and turn the ball over on downs. Coahoma’s offense drove down the field but was held to a field goal for a 10-0 lead.
The offensive woes continued as Stanton would punt on its next possession, but the tide was about to turn.
The defense strung together three spectacular plays to force Coahoma to punt. Stanton’s Miguel Moreno forced his way into the backfield and blocked the punt and eventually recovered the ball inside the Coahoma 10-yard line.
Three plays later Ethan Anaya dove across the goal line for a Stanton touchdown. Moreno added the extra point kick to cut Coahoma’s lead to 10-7.
With less than a minute left in the second quarter and one timeout, Stanton got the ball back and was looking to run out the clock. But a huge gain enticed the Buff’s coaches to try and squeeze out a couple more points. One timeout and two “clocks” later, Stanton was on the 15-yard line with two seconds left in the half. Moreno was asked to attempt a 32-yard field goal and his answer split the uprights to tie the game at 10-10 at halftime.
Stanton had stolen all the momentum and carried it into the second half. The Buffs quickly added 13 points on two Anaya touchdown runs for a 23-10 lead.
Coahoma would not stop fighting and caught Stanton still celebrating. On the possession following the second touchdown, Coahoma broke loose for a 60-yard score to cut the lead to 23-17.
Coahoma would then get the ball back early in the fourth quarter and was marching down the field looking to take the lead.
Stanton’s defense finally stiffened up and forced a turnover on downs with eight minutes in the game.
The Buffaloes’ offense would put together a perfect drive that drained five minutes off the clock and ended with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Moreno to Gilbert Flores increasing Stanton’s lead to 30-17.
Looking to score quickly, Coahoma started zipping passes up the field. Moreno had other ideas and put the final nail in Coahoma’s coffin with an interception.
Moreno finished the game with two completions for 54 yards and one touchdown. He also racked up 136 yards rushing on 20 carries, converted three extra point attempts, and made a field goal.
Ryan Andler and Cristian Orona gained 67 and 64 yards rushing respectively followed by Hoyt Mims with 15, Anaya 12, and Eddie Wittenbarger added five.
Aiden Hinojosa and Flores finished the game with one catch each for 31 and 23 yards respectively.
Orona led Stanton’s defense in tackles with 13 and Wittenbarger also finished in double digits with 12.
Moreno took down eight Bulldogs and had a sack, interception, forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Mims recorded seven tackles and Jahir Galindo tallied six.
Adrian Scott chipped in with five tackles and Andler helped out with four. Manden McDaniel, Flores, and Fabian Escamilla ended the game with three tackles each while Daniel Wickler had two, Hinojosa one, and Payden Alberts one.
Stanton will play at Idalou this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats are 1-1 in district and are coming off a 33-10 loss to Abernathy.
Lubbock Roosevelt beat Reagan County 58-0.