Buena Secures Playoff Berth, 19-10

A relentless rushing attack led Buena High to a 19-10 victory over Santa Barbara on Friday night in a Channel League game at Santa Barbara. The victory gives Buena (5-5, 5-2) a second-place finish and a berth in the Division II playoffs for the third consecutive season under Coach Rick Scott.

Running back Erik Eads led the Buena ground game with 139 yards in 18 carries and fullback Chuck Mullaney added 63 yards in 15 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Buena put together an impressive 11-play, 80-yard drive, with Mullaney’s one-yard dive propelling the Bulldogs to a 12-10 halftime lead. The Bulldogs ate up 8 minutes 34 seconds of the clock on the opening drive of the third quarter. Mullaney’s four-yard touchdown run capped a 15-play, 63-yard drive to put Buena on top, 19-10.

Buena scored on its first possession, quarterback Mike Dexter throwing a seven-yard touchdown pass to fullback Matt Kemsley.

Senior wide receiver Simon Banks gave Santa Barbara (5-4-1, 3-3-1) a short-lived 10-6 lead in the second quarter on his streaking 36-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Dustin Spencer.

Buena running back George Keiaho, who needs only 28 yards rushing to become the first freshman in Southern Section history to rush for 1,000 yards, suffered a strained knee earlier in the week and did not play.