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In 2017 East Buchanan reached the Missouri Class 1 State semifinals.
The Bulldogs quest to reach the State Championship took them to Monroe City where their dreams of playing for a title came to an end as they fell, 28-14.
During the 2011 season, East Buchanan reached the semifinals and once again had to hit the road. This time their journey took them to South Shelby where much like the 2017 season, they fell 39-26.
Back in 2004, the Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals. This time however, they hosted Santa Fe and in front of a raucous hometown crowd, East Buchanan emerged victorious, defeating the Chiefs 21-14.
This Saturday, November 27 the 2021 East Buchanan Bulldogs look to replicate the success of their 2004 Bulldog brethren when they host Thayer in the Missouri Class 1 Semifinals.
Joining a club of only a handful of East Buchanan teams to reach the semifinals is something senior quarterback Conner Musser and his teammates know is a big deal for themselves and the East Buchanan program.
“Being one of four or five East Buchanan teams to make it this far is pretty special,” Musser said. “I think it is a result of how hard, not only our team works, but how our team has come together, coaches included, to try and accomplish something bigger than ourselves.”
To reach the semifinals, East Buchanan had to go through a pair of out of conference foes and a pair of bitter KCI Conference rivals.
The opening round of District play, East Buchanan dominated Carrollton 42-0 setting up a Missouri Class 1 District 8 semifinal against rival Mid-Buchanan.Avenging their regular season loss, East Buchanan slayed the dragon at the top of the KCI, 35-21.
With Mid-Buchanan in their rear-view mirror, East Buchanan went on the road in the District Championship game to defeat University Academy, 38-12.It was their first District Championship since their last trip to the semifinals in 2017.
East Buchanan players hoist up their District Championship after defeating University Academy.
Last Saturday, in front of a jam-packed home crowd, East Buchanan held off a game Hamilton team, 22-12.
Sophomore Trevor Klein’s six-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter served as the exclamation point on a hard-fought victory.
Something senior offensive lineman Trevor Rush, will never forget.
“When Trevor scored that final touchdown to seal the deal it was an amazing feeling,” Rush said. “Just hearing the crowd roar, and all of us players coming together… that’s a feeling we will remember for the rest of our lives.”
Across from East Buchanan this Saturday will be a Thayer team that is just as battle tested as the Bulldogs.
After losing their week one contest with Hayti 40-22, they rattled off five wins in a row. It wasn’t until week seven when they tasted defeat again, falling to Ava, 35-13.
Their third loss of the season came to Mountain Grove, 21-14.
Three losses to extremely tough teams, Hayti is on the other side of the Missouri Class 1 bracket in the semifinals, Ava reached the Quarterfinals of the Missouri Class 2 tournament and Mountain Grove is a Class 3 team.
In the first round of District play, Thayer defeated Miller 64-0 before reaching their District Championship game by defeating Ash Grove 49-12.
The Bobcats were just as impressive in their District Championship game, shutting out Marionville, 24-0. It was their seventh consecutive District Championship.
Last week in the Quarterfinals, Thayer went through the defending Class 1 State Champions, Windsor, 30-22.
The game came down to an onside kick attempt by Windsor in the final seconds.
“Thayer brings a Hall of Fame coach in Billy Webber and seven straight District titles,” said East Buchanan head coach Daniel Ritter. “If we don’t know exactly what we are doing and exactly how to adjust to what they are doing in their methodical old school offense and 3-3 stack defense, we will be shut down like everyone else. We have to be different. We have to train our eyes, be disciplined and obviously be physical.”
Both teams come into Saturday’s showdown averaging 35 points per game. Thayer has cracked 40 points seven times this season while East Buchanan accomplished that feat six times.
Both offensive units are spearheaded by exhilarating running backs in Trevor Klein and Thayer senior Jackson Willison.
Defensively, each team is tough as nails having seen their fair share of dynamic offenses this season.
Coming into Saturday’s contest, East Buchanan is allowing just 14 points per game while Thayer is allowing 16.
Both had to come up big in their tightly contested Quarterfinal victories.
Game time is 1 p.m. in East Buchanan Saturday and the forecast is calling for nice weather.
The perfect environment to determine who will move on to the Missouri Class 1 State Championship.
A win for East Buchanan and the people of Gower will be partying like it's 2004.
The East Buchanan Bulldogs taking the field before their Quarterfinal victory over Hamilton. Photo by Brett Adkison @LeaderMOSports
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