Bucks Felled by Montgomery; Hit by Injuries

Buck Snapshot:

Next: North Penn (1-0) @ Bucktail (0-1) 7 p.m. Friday
Last Year: Teams did not meet.
Last Week: Bucktail lost to Montgomery 32-22; North Penn downed Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech, 46-8.

by Jim Morgan

FARWELL – Bucktail football could not have opened up their 2014 season with a more evenly matched team than against Montgomery. Coach Bruce Ransom could not have asked for a better first half as the Bucks led 16-6 until Montgomery scored three touchdowns in the third quarter on five plays as the Red Raiders won 32-22. The Bucks suffered more than just losing the game.

In the third quarter, senior running back Willie Hopkins broke a 30-yard run down to the seven yard line. On the very next hand-off, Hopkins suffered a leg injury, after which he was taken to the hospital. One quarter, later sophomore quarterback Mike Casper suffered a knee injury and was taken to the hospital also.

Talk about back to the drawing board with your team. Coach Ransom has to figure out who is going to quarterback as well as another running back to go with senior Aaron Ransdorf.

Hopkins will be missed both sides of the ball as he left the game with 110 yards rushing on 13 carries.  He is the fastest player on the team as one time a Montgomery running back broke past the safety and Hopkins chased him down. The last thing Bucktail football needed was injuries especially a player like Hopkins who has worked so hard on his game for the last three seasons.

The first quarter saw both teams feeling each other out.  It was obvious that neither team was confident on the passing game. Both teams showing good defense as junior Anthony Intallura of Bucktail had two big sacks for a total of 40 yards in loss. With both teams settling in, Bucktail’s first possession in the second quarter resulted in a touchdown at the 8:40 mark. It was the combination of Hopkins and Ransdorf running the ball as Hopkins went in from two yards out. Two point conversion was good as Hopkins took the ball from the Wildcat play. 8-0 Bucks.

Montgomery would answer right back on one play from scrimmage as Zack Shadle scored on a 80 yard touchdown run as he would finish with 398 total yards rushing for the game. The two point try was no good, 8-6 Bucks.

Ransom was feeling good about his running game as he mixed it up with Casper, Ransdorf and Hopkins until Casper carried it into the end zone. Then it was Hopkins on the 2-pt conversion which was good for a 16-6 lead. With 3:00 left before the half, Montgomery was moving the ball again as they had a first and goal on the nine yard line. Junior Keifer Mason came up with an interception at the two yard line as the clock ran out.

Everything started going wrong for the Bucks in the second half; on the first carry that Montgomery had Shadle ran for 56 yards before Hopkins dragged him down on the Bucks’ seven yard line. Montgomery punched it into the end zone as the 2-point conversion was no good 16-14 Bucks. Bucktail was three and out as Montgomery’s next running play for 45 yards resulted in a touchdown. 20-14 Montgomery with 8:53 left. Bucktail’s big running play by Hopkins (30 yards) to the three yard line was followed by his injury. Right after the delay, Bucktail fumbled as Montgomery recovered on the nine yard line. First play from scrimmage went for a 91-yard touchdown, 2-Pt conversion no good. 26-16 Montgomery.

Fourth quarter saw the Bucks moving the ball for three first downs, oneof them resulting from a 18 yard pass from Casper to sophomore Mitch Intallura. Then the misfortune to Casper on his injury and coach Ransom was trying to find someone to run the ball as he put Ransdorf behind center for the rest of the game. Then the surprise came for the coaches as junior Brice Cannon carried the ball for 27 yards for the touchdown as the 2-Pt conversion was no good, 26-22 Montgomery with 1:58 left in the game. Bucktail coaches took a chance as they set their defense up with speed. Most of them got on the other side of the line as nobody had the right hole picked to stop Shadle on a 55-yard touchdown as the game ended 32-22 Montgomery.

The Bucks will host North Penn on Friday at Dwyer Field. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. The Bucks family wishes Willie and Mike a speedy recovery.