Cherry, ECC race past Bucktail, 30-16
By Bees O’Brien
ST. MARY’S, PA- Elk County Catholic is far from the most overpowering of opponents in District 9 Section 3, but the Crusaders keep finding ways to pull off victories. Bucktail outgained ECC in total yards 284-217, time of possession and gained 18 first downs to the Crusaders 10.
Elk County Catholic has an answer to all of those stat lines, Noah Cherry. Cherry scorched the Bucks with constant big third and fourth down runs and found the end zone four times in their Section 3 victory over the visiting Bucks. Cherry would rack up 177 yards on 22 carries to go along with those four scores.
Bucktail’s defense did come to play, however. They stopped Ben Reynolds and Frankie Smith from being a factor in the contest. Constant hard play from Johnny Green, Evan Hillyer and Brian Dwyer gave the Crusaders’ number two and three options fits all night. Reynolds and Smith combined for just 27 yards total.
The Bucks broke through first on their very first drive and they may have found another elite back in the process. Tanner Pettingill had a breakout night on the ground picking up three key first downs on the opening series. This would eventually lead to a fake handoff to Pettingill that fooled everybody in Dutch Country Stadium and in a blink of an eye Brody Pentz raced in for a 43-yard score. Pettingill would convert the two-point conversion and Bucktail led 8-0.
ECC took over and Noah Cherry would dazzle. The Crusaders took advantage of some crucial Bucktail penalties on their opening drive that would lead to Cherry diving in to score from 4 yards out. Ben Reynolds would convert the try to knot things up at 8-8.
Cherry would find pay dirt again in the second quarter on another long ECC drive on a 1-yard run. Reynolds would find Isaac Dellaquila for the conversion and take a 16-8 lead into halftime.
Elk County Catholic began the second half with the ball and advanced down field thanks in part to a questionable pass interference call. Bucktail’s defense would hold, but on a fourth down and four play it would be Cherry again scampering from 47 yards out. The conversion attempt failed, but ECC still held the lead 22-8 heading into the game’s final quarter.
The Bucks committed 8 infractions for 65 yards in the game.
Coach Frank Sutliff’s Bucks showed a lot of fight all game and they would mount an impressive drive that was spearheaded by the power running of Pettingill and the swift feet of Braylon Fantaski. Both had huge first down conversions in the drive that would set up a 1-yard touchdown score from Brody Pentz. Following the Fantaski conversion, Bucktail trailed by just one score with six minutes remaining.
Noah Cherry would once again strike on a key third down and long situation. The Elk County Catholic junior would race in to pay dirt from 37 yards out. Reynolds would find Joe Tettis for the conversion to set the final at 30-16 in favor of ECC.
Pettingill finished night racking up 107 yards on 17 carries. Fantaski carried the ball 13 times for 95 yards and Brody Pentz racked 65 yards on the ground and a pair of scores.
ECC improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in league play. They will host Sheffield on Friday. The Bucks dropped to 1-1 and 1-1 in Section 3 and will travel to Otto-Eldred Friday night. Otto-Eldred defeated 4A Bradford Friday night 33-26.
Bucktail
ECC 8 8 6 8 30
RUSHING
Bucktail- Pettingill 17-107, Fantaski 13-95, Pentz 8-65 2TD, Mason 4-9, Dwyer 1-8
TOTAL- 43-284
ECC- Cherry 22-177 4TD, Reynolds 7-23, Smith 6-4
TOTAL- 35-204
PASSING
Bucktail- Pentz 0-4 INT
ECC- Reynolds 3-8 16 yds
RECEIVING
Bucktail-NONE
ECC- Dellaquila 2-13, Tettis 1-3
First Downs- Bucktail 18, ECC 10
Turnovers-Bucktail 1, ECC 0
Penalties- Bucktail 8-65, ECC 4-20
