Buena Finds Its Rhythm Against Marana

Coming off a heartbreaking 24–23 overtime loss to Tucson High, the Buena Colts had something to prove Friday night. What resulted was a response of a complete team performance.

Buena defeated the Marana Tigers 38–28 at home on Friday, Sept. 25, improving to 3–2 on the season and continuing its strong play at Buena High School.

From the opening minutes, the Colts played with energy on both sides of the ball. The offense consistently found ways to move the football and put points on the board, while the defense created momentum-changing plays throughout the night.

Buena's offense finished the game with 38 points, continuing a strong stretch at home. The Colts have now won five of their last six home games and have averaged 33.3 points during that stretch. 

The ground game was especially important for Buena. The Colts totaled 161 rushing yards, including 95 yards on just five carries from the quarterback position and another 66 yards from the running game. The rushing attack helped Buena control the pace and keep Marana's defense under pressure. Through the air, Buena completed 3 of 9 passes for 23 yards. While the passing numbers were modest, the Colts' ability to run the football allowed the offense to continue producing points.

Defensively, Buena made its biggest impact by forcing turnovers. The Colts intercepted Marana's quarterback three times, with interceptions coming from three different members of the defense. One of those turnovers was returned for a touchdown, giving Buena another major momentum swing. The defensive effort was especially important against a Marana team that finished with 28 points. Whenever the Tigers began building momentum, Buena's defense found ways to respond and keep the Colts in control.

After allowing 24 points in the overtime loss to Tucson High the previous week, Buena's response against Marana showed the team's ability to bounce back. The Colts combined offensive production, a physical rushing attack and three takeaways to finish the night with a 10-point victory.

For the Colts, Friday night's victory was more than just another win. It was a team response — one that showed what Buena can accomplish when the offense and defense work together. 

Now sitting at 3–2, Buena will look to carry that momentum into next week's matchup against Highland.