Pointers take ‘Bone’ for second straight year

Van Buren unveiled its new big video board on Friday night, and the Pointers gave it a workout. Van Buren scored early and often, and rolled over rival Alma, 53-21, at Citizens Bank Stadium at Blakemore Field. The Pointers improved to 2-0 for the first time in five years and won the Battle of the Bone for the second straight year. Van Buren opened with four straight scoring drives and jumped to a 25-0 lead with 3:05 left in the first quarter. The Pointers took the opening kickoff and scored in three plays. Quarterback Gary Phillips dialed up Jude Bartholomew on the first play of the game for 54 yards to the Alma’s 7. Two plays later, Phillips scored from three yards out. Chris Flores added the placement for a quick 7-0 lead just 47 seconds into the game. After forcing a punt after just five plays, Van Buren needed nine plays for Flores to boot a 30-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 6:11 left in the quarter. Deevin Swearingen recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and two plays later Brayden Rivas followed Cha’Raun Page into the end zone from a yard out. Jaiden Henry turned a bad snap on the extra point into two points when he scrambled and hit Guillermo Palafox. Van Buren forced another punt, and Phillips dropped back to pass and scrambled for 59 yards for a touchdown. Flores added the extra point to push Van Buren up, 25-0, with 3:05 left in the first quarter. Alma got on the scoreboard to open the second quarter with Landon Blair hitting Grayson Bailey for a 10-yard touchdown. Bailey added the two-point run to cut Alma’s deficit to 25-8. Van Buren responded with two more scores to end the first half on Phillips’ 30-yard touchdown pass to Bartholomew and a 3-yard touchdown run by Rivas. Alma opened the second quarter with a four-play scoring drive, capped by Ben Henley’s 56-yard run on fourth-down. Van Buren again answered quickly. After a penalty on the kickoff and a 14-yard return by Isaac Nason, Phillips hit Maury Newton for 40 yards and a touchdown for a 46-15 cushion. On their next possession, the Pointers notched one last score on a 1-yard sneak by Phillips behind lineman Stephen Young and with a push by fullback T.J. Dyer for a 53-15 lead with 4:26 left in the third quarter. Phillips ended 122 yards on the ground and 332 yards through the air. Bartholomew caught 162 yards receiving on six catches.

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Van Buren High School Athletics

POINTERS TAKE ‘BONE’ FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 9/7/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford