Penalties, errors sink Cumberland

Big plays and bruising running led to Buffalo Gap leading Cumberland High School 26-0 at halftime during last night's Region B semifinal football playoff game.

And the second half was more of the same, with the Buffalo Gap Bison winning 46-12 over the Cumberland Dukes in a game that was closer than the final score indicated.

"Special teams was huge," Bison coach Rob Maxwell said after the game.

His team is the defending state champion and is riding a 26-game winning steak. The Bison will next play William Campbell.

Buffalo Gap benefited from several special teams plays that led to or set up scores, including an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown by senior wide receiver Daniel Wise that made the score 25-0 near the end of the first half.

On the other side of the ball, penalties and mistakes bedeviled Cumberland. For example, with Buffalo Gap leading only 13-0 early in the second quarter, a kickoff was taken to the end zone by senior running back Mikail Walton.

But the play was called back to the 29-yard line because of an illegal block. Cumberland ended up fumbling on fourth down and losing the ball.

"We made too many mistakes . . . to do what we wanted to do," Cumberland coach Alfonso Bell said.

The game plan was to establish the run early and then use quick passes, Bell said. But that plan had to be abandoned as the Bison built their lead.

Cumberland was making the school's second playoff appearance in its 50-year history. Its other appearance, in 1997, ended with a 19-13 loss, the coach said.

Cumberland represented the James River District in the Dukes' first year as district champion.

Bell said he will challenge his juniors to dedicate themselves to the type of work the team's 16 seniors put in this year.

"I'm upset at the loss," he said, "but not angry at the kids, because we had a great season."
Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 223-3678 or .