Buck Football heads west in 2021
FARWELL, PA – Bucktail football is changing directions for the rapidly approaching 2021 season. After a stay in District 4’s Northern Tier League in 2020, the Bucks are making an abrupt change, heading west to the small school division of the District 9 League, with all new foes, from relatively nearby Cameron County (away) to further away schools such as Allegheny-Clarion Valley in Foxburg, western Clarion County (home).
Jared Hurlbert is starting his third season directing the Buck program and from a scheduling standpoint, he has no regrets as the Bucks’ schedule has a western flavor this fall. He told The Record, “I am glad we joined the D9 league. We have a full 9-game schedule, and are looking to get a tenth game with Cameron County. It’s nice to not have to search out teams all over the state. It will be good for the kids to play some new competition, and there are some really good teams in the D9 league. At least the enrollment numbers are closer to our enrollment numbers.”
In a recent Record interview, Hurlbert said he has seen a good mix of junior high and senior high players in the off-season. He said July workouts had been averaging 20 to 25 participants but last week had a turnout of 28. The Bucks were able to get in a 7-on-7 with Philipsburg-Osceola, what the coach believes was a first for Bucktail.
He called that competition “a great opportunity” for the Buck wide-outs to get some work against some good outside competition. He said the out-of-season workouts ended late last month and said squad members will get a break until the start of official heat-acclimation drills on Monday, Aug. 16: “I think it’s important to give the kids a break before the grind begins, although, in the past kids have really enjoyed camp week and heat acclimation. It’s also an opportunity for the coaches who have been giving up family time to get an uninterrupted week before we get into season mode.”
Dwyer Field at Farwell has seen improvements to the playing surface since last season and new goal posts have been erected, although Bucktail is still awaiting arrival of a new scoreboard.
Bucktail has a pre-season scrimmage scheduled for Friday, Aug. 20 at West Branch High School. First regular season game will be home contest Friday, Aug. 27 against a new foe, Elk County Catholic from St. Marys, PA.
The Bucks, in a COVID-shortened season last fall, finished with a 1-6 mark against an all-District 4 list of foes.
2021 Bucktail schedule:
Friday, Aug. 20 – scrimmage at West Branch
Friday, Aug. 27 – home with Elk County Catholic
Friday, Sept. 3 – at Cameron County
Friday, Sept. 10 – home with Allegheny-Clarion Valley
Friday, Sept. 17 – home with Smethport
Friday, Sept. 24 – at Keystone (Knox, PA)
Friday, Oct. 1 – at Coudersport
Friday, Oct. 8 – home with Redbank Valley
Friday, Oct. 15 – at Otto-Eldred
Friday, Oct. 22 – home with Brockway
Friday, Oct. 29 – open date
