CASSTOWN – The Covington Buccaneers moved forward in progression due to great effort despite suffering an unfortunate 22-21 loss to Miami East.

This game was the fourth one of the season with several players out due to injuries, but fortunately four key players were able to return to the field due to doing what they could to recover – senior AJ Reyes and juniors Trenton Havenar, Brock Lyons and Eli Brooks. Their presence on the field had a huge impact on the offensive and defensive line.

Miami East started off the game by receiving the opening kickoff, but the Buccaneers set the defensive tone early by closing down the running game and then Day’Lynn Garrett picked off a pass.

In the Buccs’ opening drive, Tyler Palsgrove made a great long catch and ran two great runs to set the Buccs up at first-and-goal. Landin Cassel closed out the drive by scoring on a five-yard run to put the Buccs up 7-0 with 7:05 left in the opening frame.

In Miami East’s next possession, junior linebacker Sam Hellman and freshman linebacker Cooper Turner combined to sack the Viking quarterback, which forced a punt. The Buccs took over at their own 47 and pout together another great drive.

Covington moved the ball to a fourth-and-two situation where Landin Cassel ran the ball up the gut. The ball popped out of his hands on a big hit by Miami East, but fortunately the ball landed into the hands of Day’Lynn Garrett, who raced to the end zone to cap a 34-yard touchdown run. The extra point by Filip McMaken pushed Covington’s lead to 14-0 with 1:03 left in the first quarter.

James Kuether then picked off a Viking pass and returned to the Buccs’ 37. Covington then moved the ball to first-and-goal at the one on a perfect pass from Landin Cassel to Day’Lynn Garrett.

Unfortunately, the Buccaneers had two straight penalties – a false start and a holding penalty – that led to a 30-yard field goal attempt that was blocked by Miami East. Those two penalties were devastating because they stopped the clock and prevented a potential touchdown to push the lead to 21-0.

The Buccaneer defense was able to get the ball back on an interception by Filip McMaken, but another false start and holding penalty forced Covington to punt where Miami East got the ball at their own 35. The Vikings took advantage with little time by scoring on a 12-yard pass with 26 seconds left in the half to cut Covington’s lead to 14-7.

Penalties tendered the Buccs in the opening possession of the second half as two of them halted the drive and forced yet another punt.

Miami East started moving the ball until the Buccaneers shut down the drive by stopping the Vikings at the one on a fourth-and-goal situation.

The Buccaneer offense then regrouped and put together the best executed drive of the season at this point. Landin Cassel started things off with an 11-yard run that started the confidence and intensity. The mixture of running and well executed passes put the Buccaneers into scoring position that was execute on an 11-yard pass from Landin Cassel to Day’Lynn Garrett that capped a 99-yard drive and put the Buccs up 21-7 with 9:15 left in the game.

This touchdown reception by Day’Lynn Garrett broke the program’s record with 104 career receptions.

Miami East responded quickly as KJ Gustin connected with Jack Hamaker on a 67-yard touchdown pass on the first offensive play on the ensuing possession. This closed the gap to 21-14 with 8:49 left.

After a great kickoff by Miami East, the Buccs start off at their own five then went three and out. A blocked punt by Miami East resulted into a safety to make the score 21-16 with 7:13 left in the game.

Miami East then took advantage of a Covington pass interference to score on a five-yard run to take a one-point lead once the two-point conversion failed. For the first time in the game the Buccaneers trailed 22-21 with 3:56 left.

With limited time, the Buccs start at their own 20 and moved the Vikings’ side of the field with a fourth-and-seven play at the 33. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers came up short of keeping the drive alive and the Vikings kneeled on two plays to end the game as the clock ran out.

Overall, Covington compiled 338 total yards with 192 on the ground and 146 through the air, while Miami East tallied 282 total yards with 35 on the ground and 247 in the passing game.

What hurt the Buccaneers from capturing a victory was the 14 penalties with just one being declined. One of the penalties eliminated a touchdown run by Tyler Palsgrove and forced the Buccaneers to punt twice, one that was blocked for a safety.

Covington’s record is now 0-4, but that record does not represent the amount of talent and toughness the Buccaneers have on this team. Hopefully more of the injured players return soon because it is obvious that this team is heading into the right direction for success throughout the rest of the season.

Next up is a home game against Riverside.

	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	FINAL
BUCCS	14	0	0	7	21
VIKINGS	0	7	0	15	22