Buccaneers' big first quarter does in Blue Devils

By JEFF NEAL

Correspondent

The Beech Buccaneers scored on their first three possessions building up a 23- point first-quarter lead en route to a 37-7 over Lebanon Friday night, spoiling the Blue Devils' inaugural homecoming at Clifton Tribble Field/Danny Watkins Stadium.

In the first three possessions, unbeaten Beech ran 11 plays totaling 142 yards en route to the huge lead as the Class 5A playoff-bound Bucs, playing without superstar running back Jalen Hurd [shoulder injury] improved to 9-0.

"That is a very good football team. They do not get enough credit because they

have a great player in Hurd," Lebanon coach Troy Crane said after his Blue Devils dropped to 0-9 with only a visit from Hendersonville left in the season.

The games first score came on a six-play, 58-yard drive capped by a 6-yard run from Dylan Jett. Lebanon jumped offsides on the extra point so Beech decided to go for two points and converted on a run by Jett.

Lebanon got the ball back and got one first down before punting.

Beech took over at its own 38 and proceeded to go 62 yards in four plays, scoring on a pass of 8 yards from Lincoln Kenitzer to Parker Campbell. It was the first of two scores on the night for Campbell.

Lebanon received the kickoff and fumbled on the first offensive play with Beech recovering at the Blue Devil 22-yard line. One play later, Kenitzer found Demetris Watson behind the defense for a touchdown and a 23-0 lead with less than three and a half minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

Lebanon got the ball back and proceeded to drive into Beech territory. The Blue Devils went for

it on fourth and long and Christian Hafner threw an interception to Alec Meadows, who returned

it to the Blue Devil 45-yard line.

Beech scored one more time before halftime as Campbell rambled 30 yards for the score to make it 30-0 at halftime.

Midway through the third quarter, Beech scored again on a 1-yard run by Dorian Carter and the score was 37-0, allowing the mercy rule and a running clock to come into play.

Lebanon took the ball over at the 15-yard line and went on a 14-play, 85-yard drive as Jaren

Stewart and Karlton Bruton got the majority of the work. The drive was capped by

a 1-yard run by Hafner for the final points of the game.

Lebanon was driving inside the 5-yard line late in the game but the clock ran out.

"Our line battled we have everybody coming back on the line except one guy," Crane said. "The program did not get this way overnight and it will not be fixed overnight."

Lebanon will host Hendersonville for the regular season finale and Senior Night at 7 p.m. next Friday while Beech goes for a perfect season against Gallatin.