Bucktail Falls to Moniteau After Tough Second Quarter

By Bees O’Brien

West Sunbury- In a game that Bucktail believed they had a realistic chance at winning, the host Moniteau Warriors had other plans. For one quarter of play, the Bucks threatened and had promise of a very competitive cross-regional contest against their 2A opponents.

Three second quarter turnovers and a surging Warrior rushing game quickly ended any hopes for the visiting Bucks, who made the three-hour trip to Butler County in the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Bucktail held the Warriors on their first possession of the game. Freshman quarterback Corbin Pentz orchestrated an opening drive that included a 32-yard pass to Teagan Stone that set the Bucks up inside the Moniteau 5-yard line.

An interception fizzled the opening drive and the second quarter only brought more issues for Bucktail.

Bucktail had no answer for the Warriors blitzing defense all night. Moniteau’s Brendin Sankey collected multiple sacks and tackles for loss. Sankey was uncontested throughout the night, especially in the second quarter.

With under five minutes remaining in the half, Sankey and Blaine Jamison were constantly putting the pressure on Pentz and eventually had the Bucks pinned on their two-yard line, which eventually led to a safety and Moniteau taking a 2-0 lead.

Less than a minute later, the Warriors struck paydirt following the free kick. Aiden Shakley’s score from one yard out extended Moniteau’s lead to 8-0 with 4:16 remaining in the first half.

The Bucks went three and out on their next possession, but a high snap over the punter’s head to more disaster. Kayne Scott’s scoop and score on the snap miscue from 8 yards out and an Aiden Kern PAT had the Warriors up 15-0.

Sankey added a 13-yard score followed by another Kern PAT to build a 22-0 lead heading into the half. Sankey, who has been the Warriors’ entire offense through Moniteau’s first three games, racked up 136 yards on just 13 carries on the night.

Weston Cook’s 30-yard touchdown strike to Jamison in the fourth quarter and offensive lineman Jeremiah Donaldson’s 1-yard plunge in the final quarter ended the scoring and set the final at 35-0.

The Bucks fell to 1-2 on the season and will next host Coudersport (0-3) on Friday night in Farwell.

Bucktail 0 0 0 0 0

Moniteau 0 22 0 13 35

RUSHING

BUCKTAIL- Pentz 11-3, Heiser 4-12, Stevenson 4-1, Intallura 4-2, TOTAL- 23-18

MONITEAU- Sankey 13-136 TD, Shakley 5-23 TD, Donaldson 1-1 TD

PASSING

BUCKTAIL- Pentz 4-8 74 yds INT

MONITEAU- Cook 2-7 53 yds TD

RECEIVING

BUCKTAIL- Stone 2-67, Intallura 1-8, A. Ditty 1-4

MONITEAU- Jamison 1-30 TD, Sankey 1-23

First Downs Bucktail- 3 Moniteau- 8

Penalties Bucktail 6-25 Moniteau 6-50

Turnovers Bucktail- 4 Moniteau- 1