Boyd Buchanan Blasts Grace Christian Academy: Advances To The Semifinals

By: Jay Pace

National Writer

Ondamarcsports.com

STRAIGHT BUC'N

CHATTANOOGA, TENN:

David Green is electric. Gary Rankin is a legend and Boyd Buchanan is undefeated in late November. 

For a program with just one winning season in the five years prior to Rankin's arrival in 2022, Boyd Buchanan has become one of the premier programs in all of Division II-AA.

The only thing missing from the most successful three-year run in program history is a ring. 

The Missing Ring

That ring has remained elusive, dangling like a carrot right before their eyes. It's there. They can see it. They can get close to it but they can't seem to grab it. 

Following Friday night's 35-0 smackdown of Grace Christian Academy in round two of the TSSAA  II-AA playoffs the Bucs are now one step closer to playing  for a championship in the Blue Cross Bowl for the second year in a row 

Eyes On The Prize

“The goal is to always get a ring” said David Green, the Bucs do it all star amid a sea of blue and gold supporters huddled around their injured star on Friday night .“It doesn't matter if you lose in the semis or the state championship, If you don't get the prize….that's all that matters.”

Green, who left the game early in the second quarter after turning his ankle was his usual stellar self, racking up 200+ all purpose yards and two touchdowns before halftime.

“We've got to have him,’  Bucs head coach Gary Rankin said. “He starts the engine. He's as good a football player as there is in our division no doubt.”

Agreed.

Green was responsible for  the Bucs first two scores of the night. The first, an inside handoff on a 3rd and 5 that he bounced outside and took 27 yards to the house. The second, a soul-crushing 95 yard punt return that lifted BBS to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Grace. Fork. Done 

“ I had to run back and get it,” said Green of the punt. “So I knew I had space to go and try to score. And when I hit (the seam) it was all perfect blocks, it was literally all green grass in front of me.”

Well, except for that kicker, David. Lordy, he tried

The Bucs would add two more first half TDs on a pair of 1 yard scores by David Yancey III and QB Hunter Rivers.

BBS RB Fisher Kyriakids added the final points of the night scoring on a short run to make the final 35-0.

Getting Defensive

One of the signature trademarks of a Gary Rankin coached team is an attacking and relentless defense. And his latest edition is no different. 

A fierce pass rush posed significant problems for a Lions offense predicated on timing and tempo. 

Grace moved the ball with some success early, picking up first downs and converting on third downs to keep drives alive.

Then, the wheels fell off.

Trailing 7-0 early in the second quarter, Grace was on the move when disaster struck. On a first and 10 inside BBS territory the Lions dialed up a flea-flicker.

Uh-oh.

A snarling Bucs defense wasn't fooled, sacking Lions QB Knox Lambert on back to back plays, ultimately forcing the punt that Green returned for the score.

Lambert faced an incessant pass rush all night. Lambert, who passed for nearly 4,000 yards during his career, was limited to just 138 in his final high school game. The running game was even more abhorrent, finishing with -9 yards.

“Defensively we did a good job,” said Rankin in the afterglow of yet another postseason win. “Anytime you get a shutout in the playoffs, that's pretty strong.”