Coudersport rolls over Bucktail 55-6
By Bees O’Brien
COUDERSPORT, PA- Coudersport knew they had been losing traction the past few weeks, but they still very much were in the hunt for the District 9 League Region 3 championship. A Friday night loss to visiting Bucktail would have cost the Falcons a share of the league crown and potentially hurt their seeding in the upcoming District 9 1A playoffs.
Coudersport didn’t flinch and built a quick 24-0 lead on the Bucks in the first quarter that completely took Bucktail out of the game. Coudy would go on to roll to 55-6 Senior Night victory behind a strong defense that played lights out against the region’s best rushing attack.
The Falcons limited the Bucks to just 74 rushing yards, almost 300 yards below their season average and Ethan Ott raced for 71 yards and two first half touchdowns.
Coudersport would lock down on the Bucktail offense during the first series of the game Tanner Pettingill was the Falcons’ target and they zeroed in strong up front to keep the Bucks’ power runner in check.
A Bucktail punt that went just 8 yards set up the first of two Ott scores. Ott would break free on a 30-yard scoring run and a Xander Brown conversion gave Coudersport the 8-0 lead.
The Falcons continued to make running tough for Pettingill on the Bucks’ next drive, forcing a three and out. Another special teams disaster would strike when Brett Mason’s punt would be blocked and returned 28 yards for the score by Coudersport’s James Lillard.
James Culvey would later break loose on his only of the game from 36 yards out to extend Coudersport’s lead to 24-0.
Bucktail did get some offense going following a 55-yard kickoff return from Braylon Fantaski. This would result in a Brody Pentz touchdown strike to Gavin Yachymiak from 24 yards out.
Bucktail trailed 24-6 entering the second quarter.
Coudersport would score 24 straight unanswered points in the second quarter to build a 48-6 lead at the break.
Coudersport would tack on a third quarter touchdown run to set the final at 55-6.
Fantaski led Bucktail with 42 yards rushing. Pettingill was held to just 31 yards on 12 attempts.
Coudersport ends their regular season at 6-3 and 4-1 in Region 3 play. They will share a regional title with
Cameron County, who knocked off Otto-Eldred in overtime to claim the crown. The Red Raiders finished out their regular season by winning four straight regional games.
Bucktail dropped to 2-6 and will have a bye week before traveling to Columbia Montour Vo-Tech to conclude their 2022 season.
Bucktail 6 0 0 0 6
Coudersport 24 24 7 0 55
Rushing
BUCKTAIL- Fantaski 6-42, Pettingill 12-31, Mason 1-2, Pentz 5-minus 1
Totals- 24-74
COUDERSPORT- Ott 5-71 2TD, Rossman 5-28 TD, Culvey 1-36 TD, Gagnier 1-6, Sherry 5-5, Dunn 4-16, X. Brown 3-22
Totals- 27-200
Passing
BUCKTAIL- Pentz 4-14 47 yds TD 3INT
COUDERSPORT- Wright 7-12 59 yds TD
Receiving
BUCKTAIL- Yachymiak 1-24 TD, Fantaski 3-23
COUDERSPORT- Moss 2-21 TD, V. Brown 1-16, Culvey 2-13, X. Brown 1-4, Chang 1-5
First Downs- Bucktail 5, Coudersport 11
Penalties- Bucktail 6-50, Coudersport 4-50
Turnovers- Bucktail 4, Coudersport 1
Total Yards- Bucktail 121, Coudersport 259
