That was a little bit too close for comfort for the Buchanan High football team.
Central scored two late touchdowns, including one after an onside kick, but Buchanan held on for a 49-41 victory in a Tri-River Athletic Conference game at Koligian Stadium on Friday.
“They’re always a threat to go deep on you and we got to keep the ball in front of us,” Buchanan coach Ross Wood said. “We struggled with that a little bit in the second half, but at the end of the day they got back into it. It’s good to see our kids rally at the end and get the job done, but a little too close for comfort.”
The Bears needed a win after opening TRAC play with a loss to Clovis West last week.
Buchanan running back Michael Runnels did all he could to make that happen with five touchdowns — four rushing and one receiving.
The Bears built a 35-14 lead in the third quarter when Colton O’Toole made a leaping grab over a defender in the end zone for a touchdown.
Buchanan kept pace with TRAC leader Clovis West, which defeated Clovis East 42-30. The Bears improved to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in the TRAC, while the Grizzlies fell to 4-3 and 1-1.
Buchanan may have to root for Central in two weeks.
The Grizzlies will face Clovis West at Koligian Stadium.
Runnels feels it’s a lesson to be had after almost giving up a big lead.
“We have that mentality that we think it’s over,” he said. “We shouldn’t have that mentality. We should say ‘OK, we have four quarters, no matter how many quarters we have left, we got to finish it. We can’t be making mistakes. We just have to keep doing our job assignments and we’ll be good.”
Standings
Clovis West 7-0, 2-0
Buchanan 6-1, 1-1
Central 4-3, 1-1
Clovis East 6-1, 1-1
Clovis North 4-3, 1-1
Clovis 3-4, 0-2
Oct. 13
Central vs. Clovis East, 6:30 p.m. (Lamonica Stadium)
Oct. 14
Clovis at Buchanan, 6:30 p.m.
Clovis North vs. Clovis West, 6:30 p.m. (Lamonica Stadium)
Oct. 21
Clovis West at Central, 6:30 p.m.
Clovis East at Clovis, 6:30 p.m.
Clovis North at Buchanan, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 28
Clovis East vs. Buchanan, 6:30 p.m. (Lamonica Stadium)
Clovis North at Central, 6:30 p.m.
Clovis vs. Clovis West, 7 p.m. (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
Buchanan’s Michael Runnels, center, holds up his hand to show his five touchdowns scored against Central with quarterback Jayden Mandal, right, and Freddie Gallardo, left, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan’s Michael Runnels, right, is congratulated following the Bears’ 49-41 win against Central Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan’s Michael Runnels, center, is smashed by Central’s Jamari Carter, left, and Aidan Chavez, right, on a carry Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan quarterback Jayden Mandal squeezes through Central’s defense on a carry Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan’s Colton O’Toole, center, is tackled by Central’s Aidan Chavez, right, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Central’s Noey Felix, left, can’t quite haul in a pass Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Central’s Noey Felix makes the catch against Buchanan Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan’s Michael Runnels, foreground, is tackled by Central’s Caleb Shelton, background, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan quarterback Jayden Mandal hands off to Michael Runnels in the Bears’ 49-41 win against Central Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Central’s Braylen Hall, left, is pursued by Buchanan’s Joshua Dunu, right, as he runs for a touchdown Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan’s Cheney Bishop, right, tackles Central’s Imari Conley, left, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan’s Cheney Bishop, left, tackles Central’s Imari Conley, right, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan scrambles to recover Central’s blocked extra point Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Central’s quarterback Dayton Tafoya scrambles for a run against Buchanan Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
Buchanan’s Michael Runnels, left, scores one of his five touchdowns with Central’s Braylen Hall chasing Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in Fresno. Buchanan won 49-41. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
This story was originally published October 7, 2022 at 11:02 PM.
Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology. Support my work with a digital subscription
