Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The Buffalo Bisons remind coach Rusty Webb of potpourri. They are a collection of diverse items.

Webb must prepare a defense that is capable of adjusting to the many different items and weapons the Symmes Valley Vikings will face on Friday when they travel to Buffalo.

“They’ve got really good size. They have an outstanding running back, a heck of a fullback, and outstanding tight end and their quarterback is a major key to their offense,” said Webb.

“They have several skilled kids. Every Buffalo team I’ve seen has some quick kids and this team is no different.”

The quarterback is junior Ethan Burgess (6-0, 182), the halfback senior Dylan Lucas (5-10, 1720 and the fullback is Jacob Hanshaw (6-0, 216).

The receiving corps is comprised of junior tight end Owen Tillis (6-3, 235) and the wide receivers are senior Connor Fields (5-11, 147), junior Jake Templeton (5-7, 158), junior Stephen Booth (6-1, 153) and senior Hayden Rogers (5-9, 173).

Up front Buffalo has sophomore Manny Savilla (5-11, 285) at center, the guards are senior Zach Boyer (6-4, 245) and sophomore Jacob Brannan (5-10, 218), and the tackles are senior Hunter Allen (6-6, 342) and Kaleb Glandon (6-1, 290).

“They are very balanced as far as running and passing. We will have our hands full,” said Webb.

The Buffalo defense uses a 4-4 and 5-3 alignment and is led by Hanshaw at middle linebacker and Tillis at defensive end.

“They are very aggressive on defense. They try to eat up your blockers and let Hanshaw run the middle and he does a good job for them,” said Webb.

The two teams met last season and the Bisons escaped with an 18-12 win in overtime.

Buffalo went 10-0 during the regular season last year only to lose 23-21 in the first round of the playoffs to St. Mary’s who advanced to the state semifinals.

The Bisons opened the season with a 45-18 win over Parkersburg Catholic last week while the Vikings were blanking Paden City (W.Va.) 32-0.

Other area games have Ironton at Russell,Ky., Coal Grove at Lucasville Valley, Rock Hill at Northwest, Chesapeake at Alexander, South Point at Boyd County, Ky., Wheelersburg at Fairland, Portsmouth West at Portsmouth, Green at Hannan, W.Va., and River Valley at Gallipolis.