“Battle of the Bucks” set for Friday after Mid-Buchanan’s semifinal win at Trenton

The third-seeded Mid-Buchanan Dragons have earned a rematch with archrival East Buchanan after a 20-7 win at C.F. Russell Stadium in Trenton on Friday night, pushing the Dragons record to 9-3 and ending the Bulldogs season at 9-2.

The young Dragons started fast, taking the opening kickoff and working the ball toward the west goal line.  With 8:39 remaining in the opening period, Ian Wegenka scored on a 20 yard burst, giving Mid-Buch the 7-0 lead after the successful PAT.  

Trenton senior Gabe Novak answered the Dragons score on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Bulldogs superb field position, returning the kick to the Mid-Buchanan 41.  Trenton turned the field position into points just over three minutes later, with Novak crashing into the end zone.  Tom Johnson had the play-by-play call on KGOZ: 

The host Bulldogs appeared to be gaining momentum midway through the second quarter, with the Trenton defense stopping Mid-Buchanan on downs at the 3 yard line, with the Bulldog offense beginning a length-of-the-field drive that pushed the ball inside the Dragons 10 yard line.  However, at the Mid-Buchanan 5, Trenton fumbled the football away, keeping the score tied at 7.

Trenton’s defense, with the Dragons only gaining three yards on three plays, forced a punt, but in one of the momentum seizing decisions of the game, Mid-Buchanan head coach Aaron Fritz selected for a fake punt, with a race to the north sideline giving the Dragons a key first down.  That momentum saw a 95 yard drive that ended with a 4 yard run by Wegenka, giving the Dragons a 14-7 halftime lead.

Mid-Buchanan’s strategy of winning the line of scrimmage, and keeping Trenton’s offense off the field was mildly successful in the first half, but was more decisive in the second half, as Trenton failed to score on four separate possessions, and while the lead stayed at 14-7, an effective running attack by the visitors gave Trenton poor field position throughout the half.  

The game-clinching touchdown, Wegenka’s third score of the night, pushed the advantage to 20-7 with only 97 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter: 

Mid-Buchanan not only won on the scoreboard, but also was better in the key categories of penalties and turnovers, with Trenton turning over the ball twice while the Dragons were clean on the turnover sheet.  Trenton was penalized eight times for 60 yards, with Mid-Buchanan absorbing three times for 25 yards.

The Dragons victory sets up a Class 2, District 8 championship game at unbeaten East Buchanan on Friday night, November 10th at 7 o’clock.  East Buchanan beat Brookfield in the other Class 2, District 8 semifinal 66-14.

Other high school results from Friday, November 10, 2023: 

Class 2, District 7 (Semifinals):

Bowling Green 51, Monroe City 6

South Shelby 43, Clark County 6

(Championship on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM): 

Bowling Green at South Shelby

Class 3, District 8 (Semifinals):

Maryville 47, Cameron 8

St. Pius X 51, Chillicothe 6

(Championship on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM):

St. Pius X at Maryville 

Class 4, District 8 (Semifinals):

Smithville 49, Kirksville 8

Kearney 35, Savannah 13

(Championship on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM):

Kearney at Smithville

Class 1, District 4 (Quarterfinals): 

Milan 44, Scotland County 0 (On KTTN FM 92.3) 

Marceline 32, Salisbury 13

Westran 13, Putnam County 12

Penney 44, Maysville 32

(Semifinals on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM): 

Marceline at Milan (on KTTN FM 92.3 with pregame at 6:30 PM) 

Penney at Westran 

Class 1, District 3 (Quarterfinals): 

North Platte 59, Lincoln 8

Crest Ridge 21, Cass-Midway 12

Windsor 39, West Platte 0

Skyline 36, Polo 30

(Semifinals on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM): 

Crest Ridge at North Platte

Skyline at Windsor

8-Man, District 4:

Braymer 106, Orrick 66

Southwest Livingston 40, Norborne/Hardin-Central 20

(Championship on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM):

Southwest Livingston at Braymer

8-Man, District 5: 

Plattsburg 72, DeKalb 0 

St. Joseph Christian 26, Bishop LeBlond 20

(Championship on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM): 

St. Joseph Christian at Plattsburg

8-Man, District 6:

South Holt 58, Mound City 56

East Atchison 46, Nodaway Valley 34

(Championship on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM): 

East Atchison at South Holt

8-Man, District 7:

Platte Valley 54, King City 8

Worth County 64, Pattonsburg 14

(Championship on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM): 

Worth County at Platte Valley 

8-Man, District 8: 

Schuyler County 72, Knox County 20

North Shelby 76, Princeton 40

(Championship on Friday, November 10th at 7 PM):

North Shelby at Schuyler County