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Sports - Prep Sports

Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011

Buhach blasts Lodi: Thunder offensive line dominates in playoff blowout

- sjansen@mercedsunstar.com

ATWATER -- Buhach Colony center Matt Cochran blocked so well he was called for a penalty.

Excessive blocking.

It was like a scene from "The Blind Side." Cochran was blocking a Lodi defender 15 yards down field when he drew the flag as teammate Stefon Gold ran 23 yards for a touchdown.

"It's happened before in our scrimmage against Lincoln," Cochran said. "I guess it's kind of cool to get it as a lineman."

The penalty didn't negate the touchdown as the Thunder were near perfect in the first half, scoring on all six of their possessions.

Buhach Colony easily disposed of Lodi 48-13 on Friday night in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 playoffs at Falcon Field.

Cochran and the Thunder offensive line paved the way.

Buhach Colony (11-0) ran 11 plays in the first quarter and racked up 201 yards of offense and three touchdowns to open up a 21-0 lead.

"I think the big plays were kind of a surprise to us on the line because we were so focused on finishing our blocks," Cochran said. "We didn't realize our guys were in the end zone."

The Flames (5-6) were just no match physically against Cochran and company.

Prince Hallion intercepted Lodi quarterback David Simon on the opening possession of the game.

Buhach Colony needed just two plays to score as Tyler Davis ran 48 yards on a fly sweep for a quick 7-0 lead.

The Thunder needed just four plays to go 74 yards on their next drive. Cody McWilliams help set up a touchdown with a 47-yard catch from Joe Marquez. Gold capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge to extend the lead to 14-0.

Jayce Webster finished off a 70-yard with a 4-yard touchdown run to give BC a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Gold added his 23-yard run for a score and Nick Datray tossed two touchdown passes in the second quarter to extend the lead to 42-0 at the half.

Gold finished with three touchdowns and 66 yards rushing on six carries.

Datray completed six of nine passes for 79 yards.

"Honestly, it was all our O-line," said running back Leon Miles, who finished with 111 yards on 10 carries.

"They made the biggest holes possible. We just ran through them."

The Thunder racked up 347 yards on the ground despite playing the game with a running clock the entire second half.

"That first half was as good as I've seen it," BC coach Kevin Swartwood said. "I've been waiting for that kind of performance for a while. We haven't played that well in a first half since Merced.

"We were good in all phases."

The top-seeded Thunder will host No. 9 Del Campo next week after its 34-12 win over No. 8 Downey on Friday afternoon.

"I hear they are a big run team, kind of like us," Swartwood said. "They have some big kids and some great athletes at running back. They pass like us, only when they have to."

Lodi did manage to score 13 points late against Buhach Colony's second unit and junior varsity call-ups.

Daniel Frazier scored on a 25-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Taylor Herrin stripped the ball away from BC senior Brandon Hickman late in the game and ran 10 yards for a score.

"I like how we came out in full force tonight," Cochran said. "We just have to work on finishing it off. We haven't played that full game.

"I know you can say our JV guys or second stringers were in the game, but that's just an excuse."

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