Buffs erupt early, rout Floyd

FLOYD — The Melrose Buffaloes played without their seniors Saturday. Suffice it to say, they didn’t need them.

The defending state 8-man champions extended their winning streak to 23 games over the past two seasons — and how — with a 76-6 8-man District 4 thumping of Floyd in the regular-season finale for both teams.

They literally wasted no time showing the game was going to be a rout. Seaver Tate opened a 54-point first quarter with an 80-yard touchdown return of the opening kickoff, and the Buffaloes (10-0, 3-0 district) never looked back.

Buffs coach Dickie Roybal said he wanted to get a good, long look at the future for the team.

“We didn’t dress our seniors out,” Roybal said. “That’s the team we’ll have next year, and they did a pretty good job.”

Hunter Terry scored the lone TD for the Bronchos (2-8, 0-3) on a 21-yard run with 5:41 left in the game. Floyd lost its sixth straight to close out the season.

“I knew Floyd was down,” Roybal said. “They were injured.”

Cameron Huber, Lance Widner and Daylon Dial each had a pair of rushing touchdowns for Melrose.