8/22/22
The hay is in the barn. The turf at Citizens Bank Field at Airedale Stadium has been picked clean. After months of preparation, Alma football coach Rusty Bush is eager for the 76th rendition of the "Battle of the Bone."
Alma's won 14 of the last 21 games between the two Crawford County schools, but the Pointers — who lead the all-time series 40-30-5 — have won the last four meetings.
"Two things, it's exciting that you get to play your first football game of the season, but you can double-down on that in the fact that it's a rivalry game against Van Buren," Bush said. This is a long process, you talk about the improvements you need to make in your program, from January to spring, summer and fall practice, the kids are ready to hit somebody else.
"We're really excited about playing Van Buren."
Alma quarterback Joe Trusty carries the weight of the offense on his broad shoulders. The talented senior runner and thrower can't do it alone, though.
The Airedales left a lot of potential points on the turf at Ozark last week with multiple dropped passes.
"As a group, we had too many drops," Bush said. "We drop them like we did against Ozark, we're going to have a hard time winning."
Bush said he's hopeful starters Ian Rhodes, Drake Stogsdill, and Jackson Daily are on their game. There could be a wildcard too in junior Demetrius Parish.
Tall and quick, Parish turned heads during Alma's junior varsity dominance of Ozark last week. The kid everyone relates to as 'Meech' caught a TD pass from Daily, the team's backup quarterback.
"Meech had a great scrimmage game, but to be honest with you, we knew that's what we knew he could do," Bush said. "He is a great jumper. Drake Stogsdill, Jackson Daily, Ian Rhodes ... all those guys have to play an important role for us, and that includes Meech.”
The Pointers won last year’s game, 31-20, thanks in part to some big plays. Against Ozark last week, Alma controlled the line of scrimmage, for the most part, save five big plays, including a 50-yard touchdown run.
"We gave up too many explosive big plays," Bush said. "Whether it's through the air or on the ground, those have got to be eliminated. You've got to win the turnover battle, too. We've got to try to create some turnovers ourselves."
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Alma vs Van Buren
Van Buren leads the all-time series 40-30-5
2021 Van Buren, 31, Alma 20
2020 Van Buren 35, Alma 0
2019 Van Buren 53, Alma 21
2018 Van Buren 48, Alma 33
2017 Alma 21, Van Buren 14
2016 Alma 34, Van Buren 21
2015 Alma 33, Van Buren 14
2014 Alma 36, Van Buren 7
2013 Alma 35, Van Buren 27
2012 Alma 47, Van Buren 21
2011 Alma 14, Van Buren 0
2010 Van Buren 38, Alma 7
2009 Tie 36 - 36
2008 Alma 35, Van Buren 14
2007 Van Buren 16, Alma 14
2006 Alma 30, Van Buren 29
2005 Alma 25, Van Buren 13
2004 Alma 16, Van Buren 8
2003 Alma 17, Van Buren 13
2002 Alma 46, Van Buren 12
2001 Van Buren 19, Alma 0
2000 Alma 20, Van Buren 0
1999 Van Buren 10, Alma 7
1998 Alma 21, Van Buren 15
1997 Van Buren 14, Alma 13
1996 Van Buren 22, Alma 0
1995 Van Buren 21, Alma 7
1994 Van Buren 21, Alma 6
1993 Van Buren 17, Alma 7
1992 Tie 6 - 6
1991 Van Buren 13, Alma 7
1990 Van Buren 20, Alma 14
1989 Van Buren 7, Alma 6
1988 Alma 24, Van Buren 7
1987 Van Buren 26, Alma 7
1986 Van Buren 7, Alma 0
1985 Alma 21, Van Buren 14
1984 Van Buren 21, Alma 14
1983 Alma 14, Van Buren 9
1982 Alma 6, Van Buren 3
1981 Alma 13, Alma 10
1980 Alma 18, Van Buren 13
1979 Alma 15, Van Buren 0
1978 Alma 14, Van Buren 0
1977 Van Buren 35, Alma 21
1976 Alma 7, Van Buren 6
1975 Van Buren 30, Alma 0
1974 Van Buren 35, Alma 0
1973 Alma 20, Van Buren 7
1972 Alma 14, Van Buren 0
1971 Van Buren 27, Alma 7
1970 DID NOT PLAY
1969 DID NOT PLAY
1968 DID NOT PLAY
1967 DID NOT PLAY
1966 DID NOT PLAY
1965 DID NOT PLAY
1964 Van Buren 10, Alma 0
1963 Van Buren 20, Alma 0
1962 Van Buren 14, Alma 0
1961 DID NOT PLAY
1960 DID NOT PLAY
1959 DID NOT PLAY
1958 DID NOT PLAY
1957 DID NOT PLAY
1956 DID NOT PLAY
1955 Van Buren 71, Alma 19
1954 DID NOT PLAY
1953 DID NOT PLAY
1952 DID NOT PLAY
1951 DID NOT PLAY
1950 DID NOT PLAY
1949 Van Buren 47, Alma 7
1948 Van Buren 46, Alma 0
1947 Van Buren 59, Alma 0
1946 Van Buren 26, Alma 0
1945 Alma 12, Van Buren 6
1944 Tie 7 - 7
1943 Alma 7, Van Buren 0
1942 Van Buren 33, Alma 0
1941 Van Buren 20, Alma 0
1940 Van Buren 14, Alma 6
1939 Van Buren 46, Alma 0
1938 Van Buren 47, Alma 0
1937 Van Buren 46, Alma 0
1936 Tie 0 - 0
1935 Van Buren 32, Alma 0
1934 Van Buren 20, Alma 0
1933 Tie 0 - 0
1932 Van Buren 54, Alma 0
1931 DID NOT PLAY
1930 DID NOT PLAY
1929 DID NOT PLAY
1928 DID NOT PLAY
1927 DID NOT PLAY
1926 DID NOT PLAY
1925 DID NOT PLAY
1924 Alma 13, Van Buren 0
1923 Alma 6, Van Buren 0