Okay so how many people have waited impatiently for this cross town classic football game? Is it just me or has this become the social event of the century for the city of Belvidere? Well it came Friday night and yes the trophy would change hands to a well deserving Buc football team.  So let’s get to the game.

#26, David Gambo and #34, Kyle Harris were back to receive the kick from the Thunder. The Thunder decided that they would begin the game with an onside kick and the ball is dribbled just past mid field. The Bucs would cover the ball on the 40 yard line to start their first possession of the game. The Thunder’s defense was stoked for the game and would hold them to about 7 yards and force them to punt. The first possession of the Thunder would be uneventful as the Buc defense held them just the same. The Thunder started their first possession on the 27 yard line.

The Bucs first visit to the end zone came at 5:33 when they completed a long pass play that subsequently was returned due to a penalty. This would be 1 of a few potential scores that would be returned because of penalties. However, after a quick offensive possession of the Thunder the Bucs would score that touchdown.  At 3:04 Harris would take the ball 7 yards for the score. The 2-point conversion would be successful it was #9, Troy Vandenbroek to #17, Cody Colquett. The score was now Bucs 8, Thunder 0.

#21, Austin Smaha was on fire Friday night with the first of 3 huge runs that put him well over 200 yards. From the Thunder’s own 35 yard line Smaha breaks through the middle of the line and out sprints the Buc defense 65 yards for the score. #7, Lauren Waddell would be good on the PAT and the Thunder would be within 1 point 8-7. This would be the score at the end of the 1st quarter.

The first play of the 2nd quarter brought in a Buc score. #19, Marcus Gooden went the 3 yards needed to break the goal line. The 2-point conversion was good the sequence was Vandenbroek to Harris. The score was 16-7 Bucs.

Mid-way through the 2nd quarter the Thunder fumbled the ball and the Bucs cover. The Bucs take over on their own 16 yard line. The Thunder was driving hard towards the end zone. The Bucs did not move the ball well and were forced to punt. During this drive Smaha hit the road again this time 67 yards for the score. There were 2 attempts at the PAT due to penalties. The first was a miss and Waddell nailed the second one. The score was now 16-14 Bucs. The Thunder attempts the onside kick again and the Bucs cover the ball at the 49 yard line.

The Buc drive begins with Vandenbroek at the helm and shortly thereafter connects with Colquett for a 23 yard pass touchdown play. The 2-point sequence was Vandenbroek to Gooden and was successful. With 1:34 left in the 1st half the Bucs led 24-14. It was the Bucs turn to attempt the onside and the Thunder covered the ball well. #22, Ryker Rodakowski was the Thunder player credited with the cover. As the clock ran down to : 27 seconds the Thunder used a trick stop and lateral play to advance deep in the Buc territory. The sequence was #17, Tony Tindle to #11, Ryan Gamble to #21 Austin Smaha. Smaha on the next play took it the 2 yards for the score. Waddell was good for the PAT and the score was 24-21 Bucs.

Not much scoring action during the 3rd quarter. So we will skip right to the final chapter of this game. Early I mean within a minute of the 4th quarter beginning the Bucs score from the 4 yard line. Vandenbroek to Harris to Colquett on the 2-point conversion. The Bucs now lead 32-21.

The clock hits 5 minutes remaining and it will be tight if the Thunder can make up the point deficit.  The Bucs were threatening as it was and sealed the victory with a score from Gamboa from 3 yards out. #39, Dan King was given the ball for the 2-point conversion which he made and the Bucs now lead 40-21. Gamboa would strike again from 38 yards away with only 3:47 left. The Bucs acted as if they were going to attempt a PAT and faked it and scored 2-points. The score was 48-21 Bucs.

Smaha did not give up the fight. The last score of the game would come from him at 3:23. He went 70 yards for the score. Tindle would hammer the ball in for a good 2-point conversion. However, it was a little too late and the Bucs would gather up the trophy with a final score of 48-29.

Belvidere, IL - The big night had finally arrived for the 2010 football season the cross town classic between BHS and BNHS. This was going to prove quite the night and the hope was that the Thunder would score for the first time against the Buc sophomore team. They had yet to do that since like 7th grade. You are probably wondering where on earth I got that stat from? Well my nephew #78, Justin Ramos plays on the Bucs sophomore team and was more than willing to give me that stat prior to the game.

To start the game #6, Jake McIntyre and #7, Jordan Zickert was back to receive the BHS kickoff. The Bucs booted a pretty nice ball and the Thunder covered the ball in decent field position. Within the 1st minute of play however, the Thunder was intercepted by #31, Nick Umlor and he returned the ball to the Buc 47 yard line. The Bucs would take that first possession and capitalize on the turnover. #32, Max Hendrickson, would take the ball 2 yards for the score. #6, Brad Ford would attempt the PAT and would just miss. The Bucs did go on the scoreboard first with a score of 6-0.

Both teams worked hard for the remainder of the quarter and the Thunder would get their first chance to score with 1:57 left in the 1st quarter. #2 Justin Ellingson hit #13, Luke Bankord with a nice spiral and Bankord pounded his way 31 yards for the score. The PAT would just miss but the score was tied at 6 and the Thunder broke that no score stat I mentioned earlier. The celebration on the Thunder side of the field was very short lived. The Bucs took the ball on the very next play and went 63 yards for a score. This time Ford was good with the PAT and the score was 6-13 Bucs.

The Bucs would start to make their run during the 2nd quarter. At 6:04 they score from 13 yards on a hard charging run by #22, Luke Hearn. Ford was good with the PAT and the score was 6-20 Bucs. Two more minutes came off of the clock and #93 for the Bucs recovered a fumble and put the Bucs 1st and 10 on the Thunder 34 yard line. The next play #12, Taylor Arango, hit Bankord for a touchdown. Ford good on the PAT score now 27-6 Bucs.

I was thinking the time was going to run out so I had started getting ready for the 3rd quarter and the Thunder intercepted a Buc pass. The Thunder had very good field position on the 37 yard line with :37.9 seconds remaining. Plenty of time to score. They marched down the field and with only a few yards to go the Bucs #7, Jake Frazier intercepted the Thunder pass in the end zone.  The Bucs let the clock run out.

The Buc scoring did not cease in the 3rd quarter, in fact it only took about 3 minutes to hit the end zone again. This time Hearn sprinted 22 yards for the score. Ford was good with the PAT, 33-6 Bucs. The Bucs kick-off the Thunder bobbles it and the Bucs #51, Brett Jensen recovers the ball for the Bucs. They battle as close as they could and Ford hits a field goal stretching the Buc lead to 37.

There would be one final score to this game and it came from the Buc offense. A 3 yard run in the 4th quarter would more than seal the victory for the Bucs. The final score was 44-6 Bucs. Both teams played a good game. Congratulations to both teams.