The Buhler Crusaders rolled to a 52-22 victory over the Independence Bulldogs Friday night in a Kansas Class 4A state football playoff game at Crusader Stadium.
The Crusaders improved to 6-3. The Independence Bulldogs finished the season 3-6.
Buhler led at halftime 21-0.
Buhler’s Ben Clouse scored four touchdowns in the first half on runs of 31, 2, 7 and 10 yards. Clouse rushed for 229 yards on just 16 carries His longest non-TD run was 67 yards.
Asher McConnaughy ran 76 yards for a TD (his only carry) and Max Harmony added a 2-yard TD run.
Indy scored on a 17-yard TD run with 31 seconds left in the first half to cut Buhler’s lead to 42-6.
Nathan Wells kicked a 27-yard field goal to make the score 45-6 in favor of Buhler at halftime. Wells and Fletcher Westfall each made three extra point kicks in the opening half.
Buhler led 52-7 at the end of the third quarter on a 3-yard TD run by Hendrix Blackburn. Wells kicked his fourth extra point.
Indy’s Javen Colbert threw a 24-yard TD pass. He completed 8-of-12 passes for 64 yards.
Deon Jones, who rushed for 141 yards on 27 carries, scored on a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
Indy added 2-point conversions after each TD to cut the final deficit to 52-22.
Buhler outgained Indy in total yardage 492-307. Buhler rushed for 409 yards and passed for 83. Indy rushed for 243 yards and passes for 64.
Buhler quarterback Asher Zachary completed 3-of-4 passes for 34 yards.
Blackburn rushed for 68 yards on 8 carries. Harmony had 12 yards rushing and caught 1 pass for 34 yards. Braylon North added 11 yards rushing.
Landon Martinez caught 1 pass for 27 yards and Jacob Miller 1 for 22.
McConnaughy led the Buhler defense with 10 tackles, followed by Harmony with 9, Jaxon Pratt 8, Miller 7, Garrett Gleason 6 and Dylan Scripsick 5. Pratt had 2 quarterback sacks.
Indy’s Bryson Funk led the Bulldogs’ defense with 10 tackles.
Buhler will have a rematch against Wamego (7-2) in the second round next week.
Wamego defeated Winfield 50-14 Friday at Wamego. Winfield finished the season with a 1-8 record.
Wamego defeated Buhler 27-14 in the first game of the season Sept. 5 at Wamego.
