PHOTO PROVIDED Talan Ditty and Matti Mason were announced Homecoming King and Queen during halftime of Bucktail's game against Otto-Eldred/Oswayo Valley Friday evening in Farwell. Talan is the son of Jason and Many Ditty and Matti the daughter of Richie and Charlene Mason all of Renovo.

The 0-2 Bucks coming off of an early season bye hosted the 2-1 Otto-Eldred/Oswayo Valley Terrors and unfortunately this one was out of reach early on for Homecoming 2024.

The Terrors put on a couple of long drives as well as a few quick hitters as they dominated in a 40-point first half. 18 combined penalties, including 11 against Bucktail, set up a long first two quarters that had the Bucks reeling at the half. Still, even though the visitors subbed heavily in the second half, the 17 Bucktail players hung around until the final whistle and ended the night with a 48-22 loss, dropping them to 0-3.

“We came in with a game plan, and for that plan the wheels started to fall off a bit and there was some frustration that set in,” coach Kevin Ransom said after the game. “We got frustrated with one another, themselves mostly, the other team, the officials and all of those things that the kids could reach out to be frustrated about,” he continued on the scenario as they went to the half down by 40.

“I challenged them just to find peace, find peace in the moment, the literal moment of halftime, find quiet and get rid of the energy and emotion. When you have that the game is lighter and faster. And they did that, they continued to play hard and because they made that choice and I’m a very happy coach because of it,” Ransom said of his teams’ efforts.

Brody Pentz had a career night despite the defeat. Pentz rushed for 235 yards and threw for 111, including tossing two touchdown passes and even grabbing a TD pass as a receiver. The freshman started to have an influence on the varsity level as Teagan Stone grabbed a TD reception and Steven Heiser made the throw to Pentz for his score.

Gavin Yachymiak caught the first scoring pass in the second whose hook up from Pentz got the Bucks on the board.

Bucktail senior Talan Ditty, who was named Homecoming King at halftime along with Homecoming Queen Matti Mason, registered a 15-yard sack on one of Bucktail’s best defensive plays of the night. Jaden Intallura had a team high nine tackles as Yachymiak notched 8 and Pentz picked up seven takedowns.

The Bucks will now be on the road until October 18th a road trip that starts next Friday when Bucktail travels to Smethport.