Buchanan, MI — By DOUG DONNELLY BUCHANAN – Whiteford fought off a second quarter battle from the Bucks to win 44-16 Friday in the first-ever meeting with Buchanan. Whiteford led 22-0 before Buchanan scored twice on long pass plays – one from 74 and one from 36 – to narrow the score to 22-16 at halftime. Whiteford rolled in the second half, however, outscoring the Bucks 22-0. “We could have come out in the second half and play really well was good to see,” Whiteford coach Todd Thieken said. “After a three-hour bus ride, the adversity we faced, them playing well in the second quarter, our guys didn’t give up. They hung in there and came out in the second half and played really well.” Tre Eitniear rushed for three touchdowns, passed for one and kicked two extra-points. He had 131 passing yards, including a 32- yard touchdown to Caden Stewart. “He played well,” Thieken said of Eitniear. “We were in some situations where he need- ed to make a throw, and he delivered.” The Bobcats had 450 yards of total offense and 29 first downs, controlling the clock. The Bobcat defense held the Bucks to nega- tive rushing yards in the first half and 59 for the game but gave up 221 yards through the air to Buchanan quarterback Jake Franklin. “They made a couple of big plays, but that is going to happen,” Thieken said. “You aren’t going to stop someone every play. We knew coming in they were capable of making some big plays.” Whiteford was whistled for nine penalties for 95 yards, compared to 70 yards in penal- ties by the Bucks. The 2-1 Bobcats will go back on the road Friday to play Edon, Ohio. The Bombers are 4-0 and averaging 45 points a game. “Bob (Olwin, Edon coach) has been run- ning that offense for 25 years and does a great job at it,” Thieken said of Whiteford’s next opponent. “Their quarterback proba- bly has thrown for more yards already this season in four games than we will all season. They have really good receivers and skilled guys.“Literally, our focus, is to just get first downs. We need to get first downs, control the clock and not have an off possession be- cause they can score on any play. We can’t get into a situation where we are chasing points against a team like that.” GAME SUMMARY WHITEFORD 8 14 8 14 – 44 BUCHANAN 0 16 0 0 – 16 SCORING SUMMARY Scoring Summary First Quarter W – Tre Eitniear 5 run (Trenton Eit- niear pass from Tre Eitniear) Second Quarter W – Safety W – Trenton Eitniear 4 run W – Tre Eitniear 15 run B – Brody Reed 74 pass from Jake Franklin (Reed pass from Franklin) B – Reed 36 pass from Franklin (Leland Payne pass from Franklin) Third Quarter W – Caden Stewart 32 pass from Tre Eitniear (Shevy Alexander pass from Tre Eitniear) Fourth Quarter W – Antonio Nachtrab 4 run (Tre Eitniear kick) W – Tre Eitniear 11 run (Tre Eitniear kick) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING – Whiteford: Brek Ruddy 23-131, Trenton Eitniear 9-47, Antonio Nachtrab 6-47, Tre Eitniear 6-38, Drew Ruddy 9-31, Brody Hillard 5-15. Totals 58-309. Buchanan: Gabe Tompkins 4-41, Leland Payne 5-37, Jake Franklin 6-(minus)-19. Totals 15-59. PASSING – Whiteford: Tre Eitniear 7-14-0 135 yards. Buchanan: Jake Franklin 10-24-1 221 yards. RECEIVING – Whiteford: Caden Stewart 2-63, Drew Ruddy 3-49, Brek Ruddy 1-17, Trenton Eitniear 1-6. Buchanan: Brody Reed 4-106, Tristan Nesbitt 2-56, Tyler Baker 1-38, Gabe Tompkins 1-19, Ryan Hickok 1-6, Leland Payne 1-(minus)-4.