Pentz, Bucktail run over ECC 42-16

PublisherSeptember 8, 2023Last Updated: September 8, 2023

3 minutes read

By Bees O’Brien

FARWELL, PA-How does a high school football player follow a 13-tackle game, which included a stellar stop on the 1 yard line?

Brody Pentz had the answer to that question on Friday night. Pentz would rack up a career-high 257 yards on the ground and lead his team to a commanding 42-16 win over visiting Elk County Catholic. Pentz would score three touchdowns in the game as well.

Tanner Pettingill would eclipse the century mark with 108 yards and a score and Bucktail may have set a new school record for most rushing yards in a single game with 515. That milestone is unofficial, but going back through the years nobody could come up with a single game total by the Bucks.

The game officiating was at times questionable. Three inadvertent whistles would nullify huge Bucktail runs from Pentz, or the Bucktail junior would have easily eclipsed 300 yards.

Braylon Fantaski would score from 6 yards out on the Bucks first drive with 8:26 remaining in the first quarter. Brett Mason would convert the try for two and Bucktail led 8-0.

Elk County Catholic would get on the board with a trick play. Quarterback Frankie Smith would pitch the ball to Noah Cherry. Cherry would then find Smith for a 42 yard touchdown pass. Smith would then find Cherry on the try for two to knot things up at 8-8 heading into the second quarter.

Bucktail’s ground attack began to wear down ECC in the second quarter. Two huge Bucktail drives would be capped off by another score from Pentz from 5 yards out and the Pettingill score from 2 yards out. Both tries for two failed, but Bucktail would take a 20-8 lead into the half.

Bucktail received to start the second half and their opening drive was a long one and defined just exactly what this team is all about.

Behind a line consisting of Talan Ditty, Johnny Green and Evan Hillyer the Bucks would melt away 5:15 seconds of game time. Pentz would score on a 6 yard run to expand the Bucks’ lead to 26-8.

A winless Elk County Catholic would not give up. Frankie Smith’s 44 yard run with 5:37 would shrink the Bucktail lead to 26-16 following a Noah Cherry two-point run.

The Crusaders would recover an onsides kick, but that drive would falter on a blocked field goal attempt.

Brody Pentz would once again take over with a huge 65-yard scoring run with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter. A Pettingill run would give the Bucks a commanding 34-16 lead.

And Pentz wasn’t done yet.

With 10:52 remaining in the game Pentz would scamper in from 6 yards out and combined with his two-point conversion to Fantaski would ice the game and set the final at 42-16.

Bucktail, now 3-0 for the first time since 2011 will travel to Otto-Eldred this coming Friday. The Terrors fell to Bradford 34-12 this week, but are still 2-0 in D9 League Region 3 play. ECC dropped to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in league play. They will travel to Sheffield on Saturday afternoon.

Elk County Catholic 8 0 8 0 16

Bucktail 8 12 14 6 42

B-Fantaski 6 run (Mason run)

E- Cherry 42 pass to Smith (Smith to Cherry)

B- Pentz 5 run (run failed)

B-Pettingill 2 run (pass failed)

B-Pentz 6 run (pass failed)

E-Smith 44 run (Cherry Run)

B- Pentz 65 run (Pettingill run)

B- Pentz 6 run (Pentz to Fantaski)

RUSHING

BUCKTAIL- Pentz 18-257 3TD, Pettingill 11-108 TD, Fantaski 7-66 TD, Mason 6-32, Pick 3-28, Intallura 3-13, Fleisher 2-11 TOTAL- 50-515 5TD