The only thing that kept Bowling Green from shutting out Amite School Center was a kickoff return in the second half, as the Buccaneers improved to 3-1 with a 39-8 victory at home last Friday night.
“We played well,” Bowling Green coach David Currier said. “I was pleased with just about every phase of the game except the kickoff return. The defense pitched a shutout.”
The Bucs scored the game’s first 27 points and took a 27-0 lead to halftime.
Cameron Cowart opened the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good, and Bowling Green led 6-0 after one quarter.
Bowling Green then outscored Amite School Center, 27-0, in the second quarter to take a commanding lead.
Jordan Barnes ran it in from the 2. The two-point conversion was no good, keeping it a 12-0 contest.
Cowart tallied the next two touchdowns on runs of 3 and 6 yards. The two-point conversion was good on the first one, with Barnes connecting with Sammy Graves for a 20-0 advantage. Hayden Thompson split the uprights on the extra point, following the second touchdown.
In the third quarter, Amite School Center broke up the shutout by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, trimming the Buccaneers’ lead to 27-8.
Jace Ball then scored on an 8-yard run and Graves scored from the 3. Both extra points were no good.
The Buccaneers put up 415 yards of total offense and Currier praised his team on its play.
“Our offense is clicking,” he said. “We’re blocking and tackling. We’ve just got to work on the kickoff coverage, but that’s a good problem to have since we’re kicking off a lot.”
The Buccaneers had a strong rushing attack Friday night, as two players broke the 100-yard mark.
Barnes carried the ball 12 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He also finished 7-of-13 passing for 99 yards.
Cowart ran 13 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns.
The leading receivers were Jace Ball, Jonathan Smith and Jack Bickham.
Ball caught two passes for 38 yards.
Smith had two receptions for 35 yards and Bickham had one catch for 23 yards.
Defensively, Thompson made eight tackles.
Hunter Mulkey and Brandon McElveen finished with seven tackles each.
Drake Spears had seven tackles and a sack.
Ball made two stops and intercepted a pass. Barnes also picked off a pass.
The win improved Bowling Green’s record to 3-1.
The Buccaneers’ next game takes place Friday night, as they open District 5AAA play on the road against Central Private.