Lumberton Raider linebacker Colton Orr (23) gets ready to tackle East Chambers quarterback Jacoby Perrault (10) Friday night at Buccaneer Stadium. Photo taken September 17, 2021 Jarrod Brown for Beaumont Enterprise
Jarrod BrownThe Buna Cougars opened the season with five losses, including district opener against Woodville. But in their last two games, the offense has come alive and they have scored 55 and 60 points, respectively.
Last Friday, they had the task of going to Winnie to face the East Chambers Buccaneers with a chance to put themselves in position to make the playoffs. However, the home team had something else in mind and sent the Cougars home on the short end of a 37-28 score.
East Chambers opened a back and forth offensive game when their quarterback scored on a 55-yard scramble. The Bucs led 7-0 with less than a minute off the scoreboard.
Buna responded on its first drive with Jacob Johnson scoring on a 1-yard run. The PAT failed and Buna trailed 7-6.
The Bucs scored on a 4-yard run and extended the lead to 14-6 at the 2:27 mark of the first quarter.
Buna then threw an interception, and the Bucs turned that into points on a 12-yard run increasing the score to 21-6.
Johnson scored again on a 12-yard run, and Buna once again missed the conversion making the score 21-12 with 9:14 left in the second quarter.
East Chambers marched down the field on its next possession scoring on a 12-yard run to lead 28-12.
Johnson scored on a 3-yard run on the final play before halftime and a two-point conversion made the score 28-20 as the teams left the field for halftime.
Most of the third quarter was a struggle for both teams, but the Bucs scored at the 3:01 mark to make the score 35-20.
Johnson scored his fourth touchdown of the game on Buna’s next possession and the two-point conversion brought them within seven points of the Bucs at 25-28.
Buna held the Bucs on their next possession and marched down field to get a first and goal at the Bucs’ 6 yard line.
But the Cougars were unable to score on four plays turning the ball over on downs as the clock was ticking down in the fourth quarter.
The Cougar defense forced a punt, but they ended up starting at their own 5 yard line.
Three incomplete passes led to a fourth and 10 for the Cougars.
A heavy rush by the Bucs resulted in a sack and a safety making the final score 37-20.
Buna has two games remaining as they host Anahuac this week and go to Kirbyville on Nov. 5 for their annual grudge match with the Wildcats.
The Cougars are not out of playoff contention, but they need to win both of their remaining games to ensure a spot in the playoffs.
