The offense was back in high gear for the Lowry High School football team put up 41 more points on Friday night in South Tahoe, clinching a playoff spot with a 41-14 victory over the Vikings on Friday night.
After giving up 79 points and over 700 yards of rushing to Fernley the week before, the Buckaroos defense was much better. Lowry improved to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in the Northern 3A.
In his first career-high school start at quarterback, Connor Peterson threw for five touchdowns.
The junior connected with Ryder Huitt on the first play of the game for a 75-yard touchdown.
Peterson moved to quarterback in the second quarter of the Fernley game, with Erick Valencia moving to running back.
The Buckaroos scored on four of their five possessions in the first half, with the other being stopped on downs deep in Viking territory.
Lowry led 14-0 midway through the first quarter after a touchdown pass from Peterson to Valencia.
South Tahoe cut the deficit to 14-7 at the end of the first quarter but the Lowry defense did not allow another point in the first half and extended the advantage to 28-7 at the break.
The Buckaroos capped off a 73-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Peterson to Huitt.
As time expired in the second quarter, Jaden Jimenez brought in a juggling catch from Peterson for the touchdown.
South Tahoe burned much of the clock to start the third quarter with a touchdown drive to climb within 14 points at 28-14 but that was as close as the Vikings got.
Lowry extend its lead to 35-14 off a touchdown catch by Anthony Monroy and capped off the scoring with a 74-yard run by Valencia, one play after a Buckaroo defensive stop.
Lowry closes out the regular season on Friday against Churchill County at 7 p.m.
It is the return of former Buckaroo player and Lowry High School graduate Calvin Connors.
He took over the head coaching duties from long-time coach Brooke Hill.
Truckee leads the Northern 3A at 6-0 and finishes the regular season against South Tahoe.
Churchill County is second at 4-2, with Elko and Spring Creek both 4-2.
The two Elko County rivals play Friday in Spring Creek. Fernley is fifth at 3-3 and Lowry will be the No. 6 seed.