HEGINS — It was a surprising start for junior Jared Buchanan on Friday night.
Finding himself behind center as Tri-Valley’s starting quarterback against East Juniata, Buchanan fit into the role easily and wound up with a first half to remember.
Buchanan accounted for 161 yards of total offense in the half and Tri-Valley scored 33 points in the second quarter en route to a 45-16, Tri-Valley League romp over the visiting Tigers on Senior Night at Bulldog Stadium.
“I was always a quarterback up until high school and then Hunter (Harner), he had more experience, so I gave it a try tonight,” Buchanan said.
Tri-Valley head coach Mike Ulicny said Harner was benched for the first quarter of Friday’s game in a disciplinary action stemming from Harner’s reaction to a tackle in Tri-Valley’s 19-8 loss to Pine Grove last week.
However, after Buchanan completed two long passes and guided the Bulldogs to a 6-0 first-period lead, Harner returned as quarterback in the middle of a scoring drive in the second period. Harner tossed a 15-yard completion to Buchanan and then scored on a 3-yard run to hike the edge to 12-0. Four more touchdowns, including another connection between Harner and Buchanan for six points, quickly followed, and the rout was on.
“Today was one of the days we played good,” Ulicny said after his team improved to 5-4, 4-3 in the league. “I wish every game we played a Juniata because we played good against regular Juniata (an 18-6 win) and we played good against this Juniata.”
By the finish, Tri-Valley gained two touchdowns each from Buchanan and Chase Schaeffer and nine points, three by extra points, from Harner. Tyler Lucas and Anthony Snyder, whose 75 yards rushing included a 61-yard carry, each added a touchdown.
Helped by Lucas’ blocked punt, which set up one score, the Bulldogs held a 39-0 halftime lead, which invoked the PIAA’s running clock in the second half.
However, East Juniata (2-7, 2-5) made the most of the passing time with 16 fourth-period points. The Tigers scored a safety when Brody McLaughlin tackled the quarterback in the end zone to break up the shutout. Taking advantage of an onside kick recovery for one score, East Juniata added touchdown carries by Mason Hambright and Logan Pursley.
Game Summary
EJ (2-7, 2-5) 0 0 0 16 — 16 TV (5-4, 4-3) 6 33 6 0 — 45
TV —Buchanan 1 run (kick failed)
TV —Harner 3 run (pass failed)
TV —Snyder 1 run (Harner kick)
TV — Buchanan 15 pass from Harner (Harner kick)
TV —Schaeffer 2 run (Harner kick)
TV —Schaeffer 20 pass from Harner (Harner kick)
TV —Lucas 2 run (run failed)
EJ —Safety, Chacon tackled in end zone
EJ —Hambright 39 run (Zerby pass from Hetrick)
EJ —Pursley 39 run (run failed)
EJ TV
First Downs 10 10
Rushes-Yards 31-156 26-172
Passes 7-22-0 7-9-0
Passing Yards 66 180
Total Yards 219 352
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 3-2
Penalties 3-12 8-38
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: East Juniata — Schulgen 10-78, Hambright 8-52, Pursley 1-39, Zerby 6-14, Ehrenzeller 1-2, Sprenkle 1-(-3), Bruner 3-(-5), Team 1-(-21). Tri-Valley — Snyder 5-75, Scheib 2-45, Lucas 7-21, Schaeffer 6-19, Harner 2-11, Team 2-5, Buchanan 1-1, Chacon 1-(-5).
PASSING: East Juniata — Schulgen 6-19-0, 47; Bruner 1-3-0, 19. Tri-Valley — Harner 4-4-0, 93; Buchanan 3-4-0, 87; Yoder 0-1-0, 0.
RECEIVING: East Juniata — Hambright 4-12, Kerchner 2-27, Bruner 1-27. Tri-Valley — Buchanan 3-73, Lucas 2-76, Schaeffer 2-31.
INTERCEPTIONS: None.