Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs: Buhach passes the test

ATWATER -- The yellow flag fell to the ground as Jarrell Davis raced 85 yards for the end zone.

An illegal block near the sideline erased an electrifying Buhach Colony touchdown.

The penalty only delayed the Thunder's celebration.

On the next play, receiver Matt Small raced by a defensive back and hauled in a Ben Watkins pass.

By the time Small found his way into the end zone, he had set a school record for the longest touchdown catch with the 85-yard score.

It was a night for Small and Watkins to remember as they hooked up three times for touchdowns to help a suddenly pass-happy Buhach Colony crush Rosemont 56-14 in the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs at Falcon Field on Friday night.

Watkins completed 9 of 13 passes for a career-high 247 yards and five touchdowns.

His favorite target Small caught five balls for a career-high 170 yards.

"I actually thought tonight was going to be a sweep night," Watkins said. "Matt was just able to run by any corner (Rosemont) put on him and I had like an hour to throw back there because our line did a great job.

"We call Matt 'The Deer' because he has that long stride and he's deceptively fast."

Watkins tried to connect with Small on BC's first possession, but underthrew the pass down the right sideline.

They didn't hook up on that one, but it was clear that pass was going to be there all game.

Watkins fired touchdown passes for 11 and 16 yards to Small to give the Thunder (12-0) a 14-6 lead in the first quarter.

After Corey Chapman added a 15-yard touchdown run, Watkins found Small for the 85-yard strike to extend BC's lead to 28-6 midway through the second quarter.

"You've got to expect everything in the playoffs," Small said. "I don't think (Rosemont) was expecting us to throw as much.

"Ben did a great job. They tried to press me. They tried zone. They finally brought a safety over me. That finally got me."

Ninth-seeded Rosemont (8-4) was just physically overmatched by

No. 1 Buhach Colony.

While Small and Watkins were putting on a show, the Buhach Colony defense was punishing Wolverines quarterback Anthony Enriquez, who completed 22 of 40 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.

Enriquez didn't have his favorite target for much of the game after tight end Jaovanni Roofener was knocked out of action after absorbing a big hit from a small army of Thunder defenders in the first quarter.

With Dallon Muse out of action with an injured ankle, the Buhach offense leaned on Davis and the Fly sweep.

The senior torched the Wolverines for 140 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries.

He also caught a 28-yard touchdown from Watkins just before the half.

"I knew we were going to throw the ball, but I didn't think we'd hook up that many times for big gains," said Thunder coach Kevin Swartwood.

Buhach Colony will host a semifinal matchup against Folsom (11-1) next week.

No. 4 Folsom jumped out to a 75-0 lead on No. 5 Vacaville at halftime on Friday and eventually won 75-6.

"We know they're going to be a tough team, but we're a tough team too," Watkins said.

Shawn Jansen is a Sun-Star sports reporter. He can be reached at 385-2462 or via e-mail at sjansen@mercedsun-star.com.

Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs

Division II

Second Round

BUHACH COLONY 56, ROSEMONT 14

At Falcon Field

Rosemont 6 0 8 0 -- 14

Buhach Colony 14 21 7 14 -- 56

First Quarter

R -- Michael Kendricks 18 pass from Anthony Enriquez (pass failed)

BC -- Matt Small 11 pass from Ben Watkins (Tanner Gleason kick)

R -- Small 16 pass from Watkins (Gleason kick)

Second Quarter

BC -- Corey Chapman 15 run (Gleason kick)

BC -- Small 85 pass from Watkins (Gleason kick)

BC -- Jarrell Davis 28 pass from Watkins (Gleason kick)

Third Quarter

BC -- Chapman 14 pass from Watkins (Gleason kick)

R -- Kani Johnson 9 pass from Enriquez (Cameron Kimble pass from Enriquez)

Fourth Quarter

BC -- Davis 21 run (Gleason kick)

BC -- Tyler Davis 36 run (Gleason kick)

Records: Rosemont 8-4; Buhach Colony 12-0.