JOSHUA LANGE • Provided to Great Basin Sun
Lowry's Joesph Vankuiken hauls in a catch against Columbia, Idaho.
The Lowry High School football team packed up and headed to Nampa, Idaho, this past Friday to open its 2023 season against Columbia. The Wildcats got off to a quick start in the first half and held on for a 51-30 win over the Buckaroos.
Lowry was gifted an early break, as Columbia fumbled the opening kickoff, handing the Buckaroos excellent field position.
Lowry drove inside the Columbia 20-yrad line but the drive ended with an interception that was returned deep into Lowry territory.
The miscue led to a 21-yard touchdown pass by Columbia and a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.
The Buckaroos moved the ball once again after starting their next drive on the 6-yard line. Bryce Kuykendall kicked off the drive with a long run and then sophomore quarterback Erick Valencia connected with Luke Fentress for a 20-yard completion. However, the drive ended on downs.
Turnovers by Lowry in the first half proved to be the difference, as Columbia took advantage of three fumbles.
The Wildcats increased the lead to 15-0 early in the second quarter. Following another fumble by Lowry, Columbia scored one play later on a touchdown pass to make the score 21-0 with 10 minutes left in the second quarter.
Moments later, Lowry broke out for its first score of the year, as Valencia connected with Joesph Vankuiken for a 67-yard touchdown. The Buckaroos missed the 2-point conversion and trailed 21-6.
Columbia answered right back with a touchdown drive of it own to lead 28-6 and the Wildcats ended a Buckaroos drive at the end of the half with an interception.
The Buckaroos grabbed the momentum early in the third quarter, as Kuykendall broke off a 57-yard run for a touchdown and Lowry added the 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to 28-14.
It was Lowry’s defense that shined next, as the Buckaroos provided a goal-line stand at the 2-yard line, keeping the Wildcats from adding to their lead.
However, on the next play, Lowry fumbled trying to get the ball away from the end zone and Columbia recovered and scored on the next play to go in front 35-14.
Lowry shook off the miscue and drove 55 yards the next time it had the ball, cutting the lead to 35-22 after a 12-yard run by Kuykendall. That was as close as the Buckaroos got, as the Wildcats came right back down the field for a score. Columbia had one touchdown called back on a penalty, but later converted a fourth down and got back in the endzone to lead 43-22.
Valencia and Vankuiken connected one more time late in the fourth quarter to cut the Wildcat lead to 43-30, but Columbia added a late score to hold on for the win.
Lowry is back on the road Friday to play Hug in Reno at 7 p.m. The Buckaroos begin play in the new-look Northern 3A on Thursday, Sept. 7, against Sparks in Winnemucca.