Heading into Friday, the Bucktail football team is still searching for its first competitive win since October 2023. Like last week, it has a great opportunity to pull it off on paper, facing a winless Smethport that not only ranks similarly to the Bucks state-wise – according to MaxPreps – but has also endured similar scoring margins.

Nonetheless, Bucktail’s small, young roster is still enduring its fair share of growing pains. Against Coudersport (1-3) last week, the team struggled, falling by a score of 45-8 to follow up similarly lopsided losses to Cameron County and Moniteau.

There were standouts, with freshman Levi Stevenson turning 11 carries into 58 yards to lead the Bucks and fellow freshman Corbin Pentz throwing a late touchdown pass and accumulating 71 passing yards. Teagan Stone had a 45-yard reception to give the Buck offense added life, and Stevenson also added a 20-yard reception to finish with 79 all-purpose yards.

It’s just a matter of continuing to grow for the underclassman-laden squad. For Bucktail (1-3), the growing pains have been tough to overcome, but there’s still plenty of time to find some success.

In Friday’s game, its biggest defensive focuses will likely be senior running back Jonah Ganoe and a relatively efficient passing game. Through four games, Ganoe has compiled 337 rushing yards on 66 attempts for an average of just over five yards per run. And through the air, he’s proven capable of big gains on numerous occasions, turning nine receptions into 276 yards and two scores.

The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. at Smethport.