Big plays propel Bucs past Wildcats
October 31, 2026
Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com
The Allatoona Buccaneers used a defensive touchdown and a special-teams score to build a 21-point halftime lead, then pulled away in the second half for a 42-14 victory over the Woodland Wildcats on Friday night at Wildcats Stadium.
Woodland opened the game with a promising drive into Allatoona territory before being forced to punt. The Buccaneers quickly took control, scoring on their opening possession when quarterback Frank Young scrambled for a 16-yard touchdown with 5:59 remaining in the first quarter. Tristian Anderson added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Buccaneers struck again just over a minute later. JJ Vaughan intercepted a Woodland pass and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown, extending Allatoona's advantage to 14-0 with 4:58 left in the opening quarter.
The teams traded possessions for much of the remainder of the first half, but Allatoona added another touchdown through its special teams. After the Buccaneers blocked a Woodland field-goal attempt, Mason Gerenyi recovered the loose ball and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown with 3:04 remaining before halftime. Anderson's extra point gave Allatoona a 21-0 lead at the break.
Allatoona extended its advantage on the opening possession of the second half. Young scored his second rushing touchdown of the night on a 12-yard run, and Anderson's extra point made it 28-0 with 9:24 remaining in the third quarter.
Woodland answered with its first scoring drive of the night. Quarterback Sam Ray finished the possession with a 1-yard keeper into the end zone, and Chad Waller's extra point cut the deficit to 28-7 with 3:50 left in the third quarter.
The Buccaneers responded quickly. Running back Matthew Benede broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run with 1:50 remaining in the quarter, pushing Allatoona's lead to 35-7 after the extra point.
Allatoona added another score early in the fourth quarter when Young connected with Levi Rodriguez-Huerta on a 5-yard touchdown pass. The successful extra point increased the Buccaneers' advantage to 42-7.
Woodland responded on its next possession. With 6:06 remaining, Ray threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Eli Osborne, and the Wildcats converted the extra point to cut the deficit.
Allatoona finished the season 3-7, while Woodland fell to 2-7.
The Wildcats will close out their season Friday, Nov. 6, when they host top-ranked Cartersville.
~~ Stuart Morse contributed to this report.
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