On Friday, August 22, the Newport Buffaloes played Juniata Valley at their home field. Parents and students were hopeful for a Buffalo win, but realistic about their prospects, based on the last few seasons. By the end of the game, fans were yelling and jumping out of their seats, cheering for the Buffaloes as they won their first game of the season, 24-19. This victory also led Coach Todd Rothermel to his 100th win. 

The game began with a field goal by senior Zach Bates. The early score set the tone for the rest of the game, but the Hornets rallied and posted their own points shortly after.  

By the third quarter, the first Buffalo touchdown was scored by senior Jordan Weyant off a pass by senior Trevin Arnold. “The first touchdown felt great; it was a huge turning point that boosted the team to have the confidence to win,” said Weyant. 

“Throughout the game, I was just focused on not giving up and keeping my head up, even during the bad plays. I knew we had what it took to win,” said senior Justin Still.

Although they were still behind, the Buffaloes had a shot and the crowd responded.  The student section, decked in Hawaiian gear, shouted their support.

Sophomore John Mayeresky intercepted the Hornets’ ball with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, securing the Buffaloes’ win. Fans screamed and some students reported a loss of voice for the weekend.

There were also standout individual accomplishments during this game including senior Dylan Vadasz who made nine tackles. “I feel like the success of my tackles helped lead the team to a victory on the defensive side, being able to stand the ground and motivate other people to step up and do the same,” he says. 

The Buffaloes had a noticeable change in their attitudes towards the game and their teammates which should translate into more wins. Tomorrow night they play at Line Mountain at 7 PM.