The look on everyone’s face was hope and fear. Hope that the Tempe Buffaloes get their first win of the season and fear that they don’t lose their fifth consecutive game.

 

It was 4th-and-2 on the Buffaloes own 40-yard line. After giving up an opening kickoff returned for a touchdown and trailing 24-8 with three minutes left in the 3rd quarter against Apache Junction, no one expected the Buffaloes to be in the position they were in-down only four points.

 

Nathan Clayton dropped back and aired it out to Isaiah Bruner. The crowd was silent as the ball cut through the air. Drop. Tempe loses, 24-20.

 

The game ended like it started, with disappointment.

 

The Buffaloes have struggled all year with scoring early. The last time they scored in the first quarter was in the first game against Estrella Foothills.

 

Coach Brian Walker cited that as a major problems for his team.

 

“Poor execution early. Not being sound early. We responded toward the end, but that goes to show you how hard it is to come back,” Walker said.

 

With one full game under his belt, since coming back from injury. Clayton had a roller coaster of a game.

 

“Second half he did a good job; first half he was nowhere to be found in terms of reading his progression,” Walker said.

 

Clayton’s growth throughout the game was evident. The Buffaloes scored 12 points in the last 12:20 of the game.

 

“I was just trying to take it one play at a time, focus on myself, and doing whatever I needed to, to score a touchdown,” Clayton said.

 

Veteran leader Stevie Maddox shined for the Buffaloes. With the team 0-4 and struggling on both sides of the ball, someone had to step up. Maddox accepted the challenge and responded with a pair of receiving touchdowns, and one pass completed for a 2-pt conversion.

 

Whenever Clayton needed a big play, he frequently looked for his favorite receiver. The rapport between the two players has been growing for three years now.

 

“When I was a freshman he took me in. The bond has grown since then. I know in the clutchest situations, I can throw to him because he is most likely to make a play on it,” Clayton said.