By Brad Hallier
BUHLER, Kan. – A bitter loss to Circle, Buhler’s first ever, set the tone for both teams last season. Buhler hopes for a similar outcome this season.
Buhler scored the first 14 points Friday, and then had a monumental goal-line stand in the second half en route to a 21-13 win over Circle.
Buhler started brightly, as Mitchell McDaniel scored on a 39-yard touchdown run. Before halftime, after a blocked punt, Buhler doubled the lead on a 3-yard touchdown run from Brayden Gentry with 2 minutes, 23 seconds before halftime.
Buhler couldn’t shake Circle in the second half, however. The Thunderbirds cut the deficit in half, and then had a great chance to tie the game, but the Buhler defense stopped Circle on a fourth-down play at the goal line.
Buhler responded with a 10-play, 99-yard drive, and Ben Clouse’s 8-yard touchdown run upped the lead to 21-7.
Circle finished with 303 yards to 297 for Buhler, which had three turnovers.
Buhler will welcome Great Bend next week.
