Bucks fall 57-48 in wild shootout at Otto-Eldred
By Bees O’Brien
DUKE CENTER, PA- In high school football, 48 points in a game and 412 total yards of offense usually means a big victory for said team. When your opponent tallies up 498 total yards and scores 57 points in said game, you won’t walk away with the win. That was the case Friday night at Terror Stadium in Duke Center.
Otto-Eldred outlasted the previously undefeated Bucktail Bucks to drop them from the ranks of the unbeaten and would take over sole possession of the District 9 League Region 3 standings 57-48.
The game would see nine lead changes, 910 combined yards, 16 touchdowns scored and 40 total first downs.
In the end it would be the Terrors advantage with their depth at the receiving unit and blown Bucktail coverage that would lead to the home team coming away with a wild victory.
Otto-Eldred jumped out to an 18-6 lead after one quarter and appeared to be gearing up to lay a blowout victory on the Bucks.
Hunter App’s 94-yard kick return for a touchdown to start the game had the Terror’s cruising, but a big return on the following kickoff from Brody Pentz would lead to a Tanner Pettingill score from 5 yards out to tie things up.
Otto quarterback Shane Magee would take over. Magee would score on a 6-yard run to give his team the 12-6 lead. That first quarter lead would be extended to 18-6 when Magee would connect on his first of five touchdown passes. His 38-yard scoring strike to Manning Splain had the Terrors on cruise control, or so they thought.
Another big return from Pentz would lead to Pettingill’s second score of the game. His 1-yard plunge and a successful two-point try pulled Bucktail to within four at 18-14.
Bucktail’s Pentz would continue to make big plays and his 50-yard run on the Bucks’ next possession would give his team their first lead of the game. Bucktail leading 20-18, would give up the lead on a Dawson Welch 24-yard run.
Braylon Fantaski would get in on the second quarter scoring flurry with a 3-yard run and he would convert the try for two to take back the lead at 28-24.
App would cap off a late first half drive with a 3-yard run and the conversion run from David Schenfield would give the Terrors the 32-28 lead at the break.
The third quarter would see more offensive fire power from both teams. Pentz’s 53-yard score gave Bucktail the 34-32 lead. Pettingill added the two-point conversion to extend the Bucks’ lead to 36-32.
Manning Splain’s 39yardrun and Magee’s 54 yard pass to Shene Thomas put the Terror’s up 44-36.
A Pettingill score from six yards out pulled Bucktail to two, but Magee would hook up with Thomas on another scoring strike and a Terrors’ made extra point gave Otto the 51-42 lead.
Bucktail wasn’t done yet. Braylon Fantaski would score again on a 5-yard run to shrink the lead to 51-48. Otto-Eldred had one more big play from Hunter App left in their tank. App’s 37-yard score would set the final at 57-48.
The win moved Otto to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in Region 3 play. Bucktail fell to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in Region 3 contests.
Magee would finish with 307 yards passing and 5 touchdowns.
Bucktail rushed for 368 yards, led by Pentz’s second-straight 200-yard game as he finished with 218 on 18 carries and a pair of touchdowns. He also threw for 44 yards. All 44 yards went to Fantaski on 4 catches.
Fantaski also tallied up 63 yards and two scores. Pettingill finished with 59 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
Bucktail will now return home this coming Friday night to host Sheffield (0-2, 0-2). The Wolverines play this afternoon against Elk County Catholic.
Bucktail will meet Otto-Eldred again on October 13 in Farwell, in what should be another entertaining battle.
Bucktail 6 22 14 6 = 48
O-E 18 14 12 13 = 57
RUSHING
Bucktail- Pentz 18-218 2TD, Fantaski 15-63 2TD, Pettingill 15-59 3TD, Mason 4-28
PASSING
Bucktail- Pentz 5-6 44 yds, Fantaski 0-1
RECEIVING
Bucktail- Fantaski 4-44, Yachymiak 1-0
