COVINGTON – The Covington Buccaneers put so much effort, intensity and relentlessness in a thrilling 14-13 victory over a very good Miami East football team.
The win improves Covington’s overall record to 2-2 and 1-0 in the TRC, while Miami East is 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the league.
Covington started off the game kicking to Miami East and the Buccaneer defense set the tone early as Jordan Miller made a huge hit that forced a three-and-out.
The Buccs took over the ball at their own 25 and followed up with a great 75-yard drive that was capped by a 40-yard touchdown run by Landon Cassel. Filip McMaken made the extra point to put the Buccs up 7-0 with 7:24 left in the first quarter.
On the next possession for Miami East, the Buccs held the Vikings on a fourth down play with a quarterback sack by Cooper Turner. This gave Covington the ball at their own 42, but Miami East’s defense held the Buccs on a fourth-and-seven to take the ball over at their own 30.
Miami East’s offense appeared to find its rhythm as the Vikings drove the ball to inside the five for first-and-goal. The Buccaneer defense stopped two running plays and then Filip McMaken made an important interception at the two to end the scoring threat.
The Buccs went three-and-out two yards short of a first down and punted as Miami East received the ball back at the Covington’s 33.
Two plays later Landin Cassel forced a fumble and Jordan Miller recovered it to give the Buccs the ball at the 18. The Buccs moved the ball near midfield and went for fourth-and-four, but the attempt came up short to put the ball back for Miami East at the 49 with 1:07 left in the half.
Fortunately the Buccs stopped Miami East and held up with a 7-0 lead at the break.
Covington had the opening kickoff return in the second half and went three-and-out. The punt then closed at the Vikings 20.
Miami East drove down to the one yard line and the Buccs held them on fourth-and-goal to take the ball back at the five.
Still, suffering deep in their own side of the field, the Buccs fortunately moved the ball to the 28 and had a chance to capture a first down. Unfortunately, the Vikings forced the Buccs to punt the ball to the Miami East 44 with 2:04 left in the third.
A couple plays later, Miami East scored on a 46-yard pass to tie the score at 7-7 with 1:13 left in the third quarter.
The Buccs started the next possession at the 24 and went three-and-out with no progression at moving the ball. The Buccs punted the ball that landed at Covington’s 48 for Miami East. The Vikings then moved the ball into the red zone with a long pass and followed up by scoring on a 3-yard run to take a 13-7 lead with 8:55 left in the game.
Hoping to recapture the lead, the Buccs moved the ball into Miami East territory on the next possession. Unfortunately, Covington failed on a fourth-and-five play that gave the Vikings the ball back at their 41.
With limited time left, the Buccaneer defense excelled once again by holding Miami East in check on three straight plays to force them to punt. Then the Buccs blocked the punt and Landin Cassel scooped up the ball and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. Filip McMaken made another critical extra point attempt to take a 14-13 lead with 1:58 left in the game.
Filip McMaken then drilled a powerful drive kick that bounced off of a Viking player and the Buccs recovered it at the Miami East 48. Unfortunately, a poor snap put the Buccaneers into a second-and-24 situation and Miami East was able to get the ball back with 1 second left near midfield. The Vikings then attempted a long pass for a potential touchdown, but Covington’s Jordan Miller intercepted the pass to close out the 14-13 victory.
Overall, The Buccaneers accumulated 167 yards of total offense with 129 yards in rushing. Landin Cassel rushed 117 yards, which was the most by any players in the game. Plus, the Buccaneers picked off two passes, recovered three fumbles and didn’t have any turnovers on offense.
Miami East had 315 yards of total offense with 107 yards on the ground and 208 through passing.
The next game for the Buccaneers is on the road next Friday at Riverside.
SCORING:
1st – COV: Landin Cassel 40-yard run (Filip McMaken PAT Good) – 7-0
3rd – ME: Jack Hamaker 46-yard pass from KJ Gustin (PAT Good) – 7-7
4th – ME: KJ Gustin 3-yard run (PAT Failed) – 7-13
4th – COV: Landin Cassel 45-yard block punt return (Filip McMaken PAT Good) – 14-13
