Man's Dusten Baisden (30) breaks a pair of tackles against Logan on Aug. 25. Baisden ran for three touchdowns and returned an interception for a fourth score in the Hillbillies 35-0 win over Buffalo on October 20 (Photo courtesy of Dave Adkins/Dave's Sports Page).
Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
MAN Dusten Baisden ran for three first half touchdowns and returned an interception for a fourth score to lead Class A No. 7 Man to a 35-0 win over winless Buffalo last Friday night at George A. Queen Memorial Stadium.
After Devon Sanders gave Man a 7-0 lead with a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter, Baisden scored on runs of 13, 1 and 34 yards to stake Man to a 28-0 halftime lead.
Baisden finished with 102 yards on 10 carries and added a fourth touchdown in the third quarter as Man held Buffalo to 13 yards of offense. Baisden was a key part of the Hillbillies smothering defense as he registered five tackles including 1 1/2 tackles for loss, but it was his interception return that help preserve Man's shutout.
Two plays following an Anthony Burgess 62-yard kickoff return to start the second half, Baisden stepped in front of Grant Weaver and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown to give Man a 35-0 lead with 10:05 to play in the third quarter.
The shutout, the fourth of the season for Man, improved the Hillbillies to 6-2 on the year and kept hopes alive of securing a first round home playoff game. Man closes the season with sixth-ranked Tug Valley and county rival Chapmanville.
Two wins will lock up Man's first home game since the 2015 season. It is possible that the Hillbillies can secure a home game with a win in one of its remaining games, however, the Hillbillies would have to rely on some help to secure a top eight ranking.
It's the first time since 1993 that Man has recorded four shutouts in a season.
Josh Spriggs rushed for 77 yards on six carries, Kaleb Mullins ran for 61 yards on eight carries and Conner White added 33 yards on seven attempts.
Mullins had seven tackles for Man on defense, Aaron Vanover had six stops and Gavin Bartram four tackles for the Hillbillies, who also got five extra points from Colten Justice.
Josh Harris had 13 tackles and Burgess seven tackles for Buffalo in the loss. The Bison, who are 0-8 on the season, got 12 rushing yards from Christopher Williams while Weaver threw for three yards on 3 of 15 passing and four interceptions.