Injured Bucks Look for Bounce-back
by Jim Morgan
FARWELL – As one Bucktail coach put it, “they were big and quick” as Wellsboro (3-0) just threw and ran all over for the 65-8 win over the Bucktail Bucks (1-2) last Friday. Bucktail was just trying to survive on the road Friday from any serious injuries or big time bruises. Senior Shawn Lovett suffered a broken arm and will not know about playing until later this week. Freshman Blake Cannon had a twisted knee injury late in the first half as the coaches and trainer decided to hold him out the rest of the game, but he is expected back this week.
Bucktail will host Cowanesque Valley (0-3). Senior Kyle Ransdorf’s injury has left him out for the season. He will be missed on the front line of the ball.
Wellsboro wasted no time on showing Bucktail the way the game was going to be as they just took the opening drive and scored on two pass plays into the end-zone in just 29 seconds (8-0). On Bucktail’s third play of the game, Wellsboro intercepted and returned it to Bucktail’s 21 yard line and four rushing plays later into the end zone and the two point conversion (16-0). Bucktail could not move the chains in the first quarter as Wellsboro extended the lead 30-0 to start the second quarter.
Bucktail did move the chains on their first possession of the second quarter; however penalties hurt the Bucks on the next set of downs. For the fifth straight possession for Wellsboro, they scored on 8 plays and converted the two points for a 38-0 lead at the 5:22 mark. After four downs for Bucktail on the Wellsboro next possession, Bucktail fans were going to have something to cheer about as freshman Tanner Riggle recovered a fumble on the Wellsboro 46 yard line. Bucktail would throw an interception right before halftime.
With Blake Cannon suffering a knee injury, T. Riggle was going to take advantage of running the ball in the second half as he rushed for 14-115 yards. Bucktail would turn over the ball on every possession in the second half until the last drive of the game with 4:12 left in the game. Bucktail started on its own 45 yard line. The Bucks would score on 8 rushing plays as T. Riggle had 6 of them for 50 yards and Mike Casper had the other two carries for 5 yards as Casper scored on the QB keeper. Brice Cannon kicked the extra point. Wellsboro would score on every one of the turnovers in the second half as they would return one of the fumbles and an interception for touchdowns.
The Bucks will need time to heal for this Friday night’s home game against Cowanesque Valley. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. CV lost to Muncy last week 34-7, failing to hold a 7-0 lead on a 70 yard first quarter run by Colton Binlun; he would finish the night with 77 yards on 16 carries. Binlun also passed 14 times, completing 5 for 32 yards with two interceptions.
