Bennett ignites Bucks to watershed victory

SAND HILLS - Blountstown didn't want to pass the torch, so Bozeman gladly snatched it away.

The Bucks scored all of their points in the fourth quarter, and they overcame four first-half turnovers to defeat the visiting Tigers 13-12 on Friday. The win put the Bucks (4-4, 2-1 District 2-2B) in prime position for their first postseason berth in school history. The official celebration must wait until Chipley loses at least one of its final two district games.

Mason Bennett, who was a freshman on Bozeman's first varsity team in 2005, scored the winning touchdown from 2 yards with 1 minute, 5 seconds left. He also kicked an extra point and atoned for two earlier mistakes, including one that led to Blountstown's first score of the game.

Bennett, who had 117 yards rushing, missed one game earlier in the season after he was suspended for receiving two unsportsmanlike conduct/personal foul penalties against Baker. The senior, who watched as Blountstown won the first meeting between the schools 59-0 four years ago, was elated.

"When I crossed the goal line it felt good knowing that I was a part of history at this school," Bennett said. "I wasn't helping my team (when I was suspended), but I helped them tonight."

It appeared as if the early damage was too much to weather, even after Bozeman gained 121 yards in the third quarter but only had a Paul Myers' lost fumble and a turnover on downs to show for it.

Bozeman broke through when Blountstown punter Dowling Lee couldn't field a high snap on a punt. Rather than kick the ball out of the end zone for a safety, the sophomore tried to recover and Bozeman took over at the 1-yard line with 6:50 to play. Tyler Grier, who had a game-high 134 yards rushing, scored and Bennett kicked the extra point for a 12-7 tally.

Bozeman forced a three-and-out and took over at its 20 with 4:48 on the clock. A procedure penalty moved the Bucks back 5 yards, but there was plenty of time remaining.

Bozeman moved 85 yards on 13 plays, all runs. Myers made up for his fumble by rushing 13 yards to the Blountstown 7 and Bennett carried it the rest of the way on two plays.

"I'm so proud of everyone who has stuck with this program since the beginning," Bozeman coach Loren Tillman said. "We found a positive in all the losses. And now we've done something for this school and for this community.""

Tillman was certain if Bozeman cut down its turnovers there was little Blountstown could do to stop the Bucks.

The Tigers (1-6, 0-2), who had a five-year playoff streak snapped with the loss, scored all of their points off turnovers in the first half.

They needed to go only 5 yards for their first score, Malcolm Ivory churning in from the 1 on the second play after Shane Bailey blocked Bennett's punt. The touchdown came on Blountstown's first possession following a three-and-out on the Bucks' initial drive.

The Tigers received another short-field situation midway through the second quarter, when Lee stripped Bozeman quarterback Travis Register, who was 4 of 13 for 64 yards, and recovered the ball at the Bucks' 41. P.J. Buggs, who led the Tigers with 88 yards rushing, raced to the left for 26 yards to set up Princeton Grant's reverse run to the right and cutback left for a 15-yard scoring scamper.

The first extra-point attempt was blocked and Buggs slipped on a failed 2-point conversion run for a 12-0 halftime lead. Blountstown recovered a third turnover, this time on a muffed punt return by Bennett, at the Bozeman 46, and drove to the 36 before Grier intercepted a pass to end the threat late in the half.

Blountstown's offense was non-existent save the 46 yards it traveled on the scoring plays. The Tigers had only 163 yards of total offense, including 75 in the second half. Forty-four came on two Buggs' runs.

"We fought hard and we had a 12-0 lead, but couldn't hang on," Blountstown coach Greg Jordan said. "We had a few big mistakes, and the bad snap was the turning point."
Bozeman's turning point as a program came six minutes later, as Bennett squeezed into the left side of the end zone.

"This is the best feeling in the world," Bennett said.

• Blountstown 6 6 0 0 - 12
  Bozeman 0 0 0 13 - 13
  First quarter
  Blount - Ivory 1 run (kick failed), 6-0, 9:42
  Second quarter
  Blount - Grant 15 run (run failed), 12-0, 5:06
  Fourth quarter
  Boze - Grier 1 run (Bennett kick), 12-7, 6:45
  Boze - Bennett 2 run (run failed), 13-12, 1:05