East Chambers Buccaneers Take Down the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks 21-19

By Sharisa Nelson, Sports Reporter

   The East Chambers Buccaneers wowed the crowd at Friday‘s game when they took down the Hardin Jefferson Hawks in a nail-biter 21–19. The Bucs hosted their first home game of the 2025 season Friday, September 5th at Buccaneer Stadium. 

  The Bucs won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball. The Hawks had an unfortunate turn over on downs at the Bucs 24-yard line with 7:41 left in the 1^st quarter. QB #15 JD Zurby wasted no time in leading his team to moving the ball down the field. With 4:50 left in the 1^st, RB #1 Koby Jones had an impressive first carry of the game for 44 yards. QB #15 Zurby connected with WR #2 Colby West for an 18yd pass and a Buccaneer TD. The extra point was scored by kicker #6 Adan Garcia with 3:58 left in the 1^st. The Hawks punt was stopped at the Bucs 18-yard line with 2:00 left in the 1^st. On 4th down for the Bucs, an unfortunate snap was overthrown to kicker #6 Garcia, but he recovered in the end zone and punted with 0:18 left 1^st. The score was EC 7 – HJ 0 at the end of the 1^st quarter.

  The Hardin-Jefferson Hawks scored their first TD of the night with 10:53 left in the 2^nd. Bucs QB #15 Zurby connected with WR #2 Colby West with a 33yd pass with 8:18 left in the 2^nd. Bucs QB #15 Zurby made another connection, this time with #24 Luke Hampton for a 12yd pass. After another turnover and a Hawks punt, the Bucs had possession of the ball with 4:10 left in the 2^nd when FB #10 Darius Edmonson rushed the ball for a Buccaneer TD. The kick by #6 Garcia was good and the score with 1:56 left in the half was now EC 14 – HJ 7.

   After halftime, the Bucs came out ready to put more points on the board to increase the lead from the Hawks and they did just that. In at QB #1 Jones carried for a 1st down with 9:39 left in the 3^rd. QB #15 Zurby connected with #2 Colby West with a 62yd pass and then West rushed for 2yd for a Buccaneer TD. #6 Garcia kicked for the extra point. The score now EC 21 – HJ 7 with 8:25 left in the 3^rd. This upset the Hawks and they fought back with a 31yd TD pass, but their kick was no good as it was blocked by your Buccaneers. The score now EC 21 – HJ 13.

  The game is now intense and the Bucs are holding on to their lead as the Hawks are attempting to fight back. The Hawks scored a TD with 4:37 left in the 4^th. Once again, their extra point was no good as it was blocked by the Bucs. The Hawks gain possession of the ball and then fumble in the red zone which was recovered by the Bucs DB #5 Rashard Hale. Bucs #7 Reid Todd rushes for 3 yards, causing the “Chain Gang” to be called out to measure and resulted in a Buccaneer 1^st down with 0:36 left in the game. Your final score East Chambers 21 – Hardin-Jefferson 19.

   The Buccaneers were led by QB #15 JD Zurby with 10 of 15 passes for a total of 177 yards, and 10 carries for a total of 30 yards. 

   East Chambers rushed for a total of 168 yards. Rushing for the Bucs #1 Koby Jones with 19 carries for 129 yards; #10 Darius Edmonson with 2 carries for 7 yards, and 1 TD; #7 Reid Todd with 1 carry for 3 yards; and #0 Earius Ceasar with 1 carry for 2 yards.

  Receiving for the Bucs: #2 Colby West with 7 receptions for 155 yards, and 2 TD; #10 Darius Edmonson with 2 receptions for 12 yards; #20 Tai’Veon Harmon with 1 reception for 8 yards; and #24 Luke Hampton 1 reception for 12 yards.

    The Buccaneers were led defensively by: #7 Reid Todd with 10 solo tackles, 4 assists, and 1TFL; #52 Aiden Baker with 9 solo tackles, 4 assists, and 2 TFLs; #8 Bryce Guillory with 5 solo tackles, 4 assists, and 1 TFL; #40 Gradyn Oliver with 3 solo tackles, 2 assists, and 2 TFLs; #12 Tanner Salazar with 4 solo tackles; #22 Dalton Dishman with 4 solo tackles, and 1 assist; #0 Earius Ceasar with 3 solo tackles, and 1 assist; and #24 Luke Hampton with 3 solo tackles.

   Kicking for the Bucs #6 Adan Garcia with 4 kickoffs; 2 punts; and 3-3 extra points.

  Coach Russ Sutherland commented to The Seabreeze Beacon, “It was a really good high school football game. We were fortunate to force a turnover late in the game to help seal the win. It was a good team win for our program.”

   The Buccaneers will travel to Liberty on Friday, September 12th to take on the Liberty Panthers with kickoff at 7:30pm.