East Buchanan scores 57 points without completing a pass in playoff win over Alburnett

ALBURNETT — In an era where the forward pass dominates football offense, there are still a few places where the old-school method of ground and pound still exists.

One of those places is East Buchanan High School.

The Buccaneers simply line up in a tight formation and dare you to stop them. That is exactly what Coach Jerry Alden's team did in Friday night's Class A state second-round playoff game against Alburnett.

No. 8-ranked East Buchanan didn't complete one pass, but ran the ball, unofficially, for 500 yards in an impressive, 57-21, win over the 10th-ranked Pirates before an overflow crowd at Jim Carver Field. Next up for the Bucs is a quarterfinal-round game at No. 2 Grundy Center (10-0) next Friday night. The Spartans advanced with a 41-7 win over Columbus Community.

“We're just tough,” said junior running back Tanner Thurn, who rushed for 207 yards and four touchdowns. “They had the momentum and pushed our backs against the wall. We came out and popped a couple of big plays and got things rolling in our favor.”

After Hunter Bowers gave the visitors a lead with an 83-yard scoring run, the Pirates took control. Brody Neighbor took a fumble 59 yards for a score and, after holding the Bucs on downs, Alburnett went up 14-8 on a Mason Neighbor 4-yard scoring pass to Grayson Carolan on the first play of the second quarter.

The Pirates then forced an East Buchanan punt and that is where the game shifted. Alburnett mishandled the punt and East Buchanan recovered. Two plays later, Thurn rambled 29 yards to score. Then, after stopping the Pirates, Thurn rambled 56 yards for a score, followed up a few minutes later by teammate Ryland Cornell going 56 to score.

Thurn scored again from the 1, giving East Buchanan a 36-14 lead.

“We've been so resilient that if something happens, we respond,” Alden said. “That was the way it was tonight. (Alburnett) got up on us and we simply responded.

“Our defense was phenomenal tonight. To hold this offense to just two scores was a great accomplishment.”

Alburnett did score late in the first half on a Rory McGargill 3-yard run, but the Pirates did little in the second half.

Thurn and Cornell both scored again in the second half with reserve Coltyn Torres capping the scoring with a 6-yard run in the final minute.

All three East Buchanan starting running backs — Thurn, Cornell and Bowers — have now each rushed for more than 1,000 yards in nine games.

“If it ain't broke, don't fix it,” Thurn said of the East Buchanan running attack. “Last time we played them, we weren't that tough. Tonight, we were real tough and ran hard.”

Alden knows how fortunate he is to have such a strong running attack.

“Not only do you have to have three capable backs, you have to have a strong offensive line opening holes for them,” he said. “Our line is really coming together right now and all three of our backs bring a little something different to the table.

“Hunter Bowers is a breakaway guy and Tanner Thurn is just a hard-nosed, physical kind of runner. Ryland Cornell is just kind of an all-purpose back. All three of those guys just do a heck of a job and I'm so proud of them.”

Cornell had 160 yards on 14 carries and two scores while Bowers added 111 yards on seven carries.