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After opening the season with a 2-0 record and riding the momentum of their second state championship in the past two years, the Vibe Stormbirds hit their first roadblock Monday night. The Deerfield Bucks handed the defending champs a 41-28 loss in Week 3, spoiling the Stormbirds’ undefeated start.

Deerfield’s fast-paced offense struck early, taking advantage of a pair of first-half turnovers to build a 20-7 lead at halftime. Quarterback Mason Caldwell connected on three touchdown passes, while the Bucks’ defense forced the Stormbirds into uncomfortable third-and-long situations.

The Stormbirds rallied in the third quarter behind running back Zion Martin, who broke off a 52-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to six. But Deerfield responded immediately with a long drive capped by a goal-line plunge, keeping the Stormbirds at arm’s length.

By the fourth quarter, the Bucks had worn down Vibe’s defense, pulling away with a 14-point surge to seal the win.

“We didn’t play our brand of football tonight,” Stormbirds head coach William Art said after the game. “Championships aren’t won in August—we’ll learn from this and get better.”

The loss marks Vibe’s first regular season defeat since last August, snapping a streak of five straight wins dating back to last season’s playoff run.

The Stormbirds (3-1) will look to bounce back in Week 4 against their district rival, the DeSorio Eagles, while Deerfield (4-0) continues to build momentum as one of the state’s early-season surprises.