CASA GRANDE — In another significant 5A Sonoran matchup for Buena, the Colts went on the road to Casa Grande and returned home with a hard-fought 49-33 victory.
Buena (5-3, 3-1 5A Sonoran) came out strong with an opening-drive interception by TJ Walker, giving the Colts excellent field position to start their own opening drive.
However, that field position was quickly erased by a fumble. With the ball back, Casa Grande quarterback Ben Matecki connected with receiver Izayah Gant for a 47-yard touchdown reception. With the extra point, Casa Grande (3-5, 1-3) was up early 7-0.
After good runs from both Micheal Lujan and Walker, who punished Casa Grande all night on the ground, quarterback Kaleb Layton was able to get in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown run. The game was tied at 7.
Casa Grande’s passing game, which carried the Cougars all night, followed with another touchdown pass from Matecki to Gant. The Cougars took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.
Buena answered again with Layton finding Jayden Thomas for a 39-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
Buena looked to score again and gain the lead. The Colts did just that with a 13-yard rush by Lujan that gave them a 21-14 lead.
That lead wouldn’t last long though as Casa Grande answered immediately with an 80-yard pass from Matecki to running back Cameron Armstrong.
With time running out in the half, Buena scored again from another rush from Lujan, putting the Colts back in the lead, 28-21.
Though it seemed Buena would go into the half with the lead, Casa Grande scored as time expired. The Cougars did miss the extra point, allowing Buena to retain the lead 28-27 into the locker room.
Coming out of the half, both defenses held strong, allowing no points in the third quarter.
Once the fourth quarter started, though, both offenses exploded.
Ricardo Brooks returned from injury with a clutch touchdown run of 33 yards for Buena, putting the Colts up 35-27.
Casa Grande then scored on a touchdown pass again from Matecki to Armstrong. With the Cougars’ failed 2-point conversion, Buena retained a lead of 35-33.
With both defenses holding strong, it came down to the last six minutes to determine the game.
Three more interceptions — two from Thomas, son of Buena coach Joe Thomas, and one more from Walker — and a huge tackle for loss on fourth down by Zackary Barrett, gave Buena the chances they needed.
Lujan scored his third touchdown and Walker added his own to seal the win for Buena.
Layton completed 6 of 8 pass attempts for 104 yards with one touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown.
Lujan erupted for 251 yards on 30 rushes with three touchdowns.
Walker contributed on both sides of the ball, with eight rushes for 84 yards and a touchdown, and two interceptions on defense.
Jayden Thomas led the team in receptions, yards and also had two interceptions and a crucial pass deflection.
Buena continued to get more people involved in the pass game with catches coming from Colton Garrett, Giovanni Henderson, Walker and Lujan.
Kicker Alan Marturello was perfect all night, making all of his extra points and adding some impressive kickoffs as well.
The pass rush struggled but linebacker Cooper Kraus added three more tackles to his already impressive season total of 112 and defensive lineman Trenton Williams added two more sacks.
Matecki went 17 for 29 for 475 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions for Casa Grande.
Armstrong added four catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Next week, Casa Grande hosts crosstown rival Vista Grande in its final home game of the season.
Buena will also be home against Canyon Del Oro for its last home game
Autumn Young is a former student-athlete at Buena who is attending Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism.
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