Bucktail football earns first competitive win since 2023, defeats Coudersport at home
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express After three years of not winning a game on the field, Bucktail junior Thomas Tarantella and coach Bruce Ransom celebrate as Cobin Pentz made a game-sealing interception on the other side of the field, allowing the Bucks to take two kneeldowns before picking up a 20-13 win.
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express On the Falcons' final series of the game, Bucktail sophomore Corbin Pentz broke up this second-down pass attempt to Caleb Knighlinger, before sealing the win two plays later with an interception.
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express Patrick Tarantella runs to the edge, as Coudersport's Michael Blackwell gives chase, setting up a game-winning touchdown from Bucktail's Levi Stevenson.
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express After three years of not winning a game on the field, Bucktail junior Thomas Tarantella and coach Bruce Ransom celebrate as Cobin Pentz made a game-sealing interception on the other side of the field, allowing the Bucks to take two kneeldowns before picking up a 20-13 win.
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express On the Falcons' final series of the game, Bucktail sophomore Corbin Pentz broke up this second-down pass attempt to Caleb Knighlinger, before sealing the win two plays later with an interception.
KEVIN RAUCH/For the Express Patrick Tarantella runs to the edge, as Coudersport's Michael Blackwell gives chase, setting up a game-winning touchdown from Bucktail's Levi Stevenson.
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Not since Oct. 6, 2023 had the Bucktail Bucks walked off the field following a win. On Friday night, three years of frustration and heartbreak erupted into a celebration years in the making, as the Bucks knocked off Coudersport, 20-13, earning Bucktail the right to triumphantly greet their fans as the western end of the field with smiles from everyone present.
Bucktail's previous game was at Coudersport two weeks ago, where the Falcons went on to a dominant 41-14 win.
"There was not a team in the state of PA that deserved to win tonight more than this team," said Bucktail coach Bruce Ransom following the victory.
"Truthfully, this all started back in April. That's the only way that you can develop the mentality that you need to last four quarters and still hold the belief that you can win," Bucktail coach Bruce Ransom said following the win. It was a reference to not just the off-season workouts, but the commitment that a core group of players have brought to the football team.
Following a Corbin Pentz ten-yard touchdown run and Pentz to Teagan Stone two-point conversion, the Bucks took a 8-7 lead with :34 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The lead, a rarity in itself for the Bucks, gave the team an instant swagger that they were going to win the game. That confidence may have proved to be what ultimately won the game for the home team.
The drama was set up when the Falcons stopped the Bucks on a goal line stand, giving them the ball on their own 7-yard line with under three minutes to go and Bucktail up 20-13.
The Buck defense has been prone to allowing big plays. Coudersport's first score of the night in the first quarter was a 63-yard Caleb Wonderly hand-off where he sliced through the would-be tacklers on his way to the end-zone.
Despite the Bucks having the lead, the game was far from over.
The Falcons started picking up chunk plays, including converting a fourth-and-nine, taking them to the Bucks 34-yard line with over a minute remaining. But the Bucks allowed just three yards on the next three plays, including a Corbin Pentz break-up on a Falcons pass that would have given them a 12-yard gain.
On fourth-and-seven, Falcon quarterback AJ Button dropped back and threw a pass to the right side field, as Pentz undercut the throw and made a diving interception on the Coudersport sideline, sealing the win for Bucktail.
The win was the classic example of the real story going far beyond what the stats reflect. The blue-collar approach left each player making multiple impactful blocks, tackles and plays. The Bucks had no turnovers.
Still, highlights included Levi Stevenson carrying the ball 23 times for 123 yards and a touchdown. Pentz scored twice on runs of ten and 11 yards and had the game-sealing pick. The sophomore threw an efficient 6-of-10 for 53 yards. And Patrick Tarantella picked up 80 all purpose yards.
"Our line play was huge for us tonight, on both sides of the ball," Ransom said following the win. "Thomas Tarantella really stepped up big with the adjustments that we did inside. Aidan Ditty did a phenomenal job, Patrick Tarantella's blocking the edge and Levi ran very hard all game.”
The game was also Homecoming 2026, with Arionna Winkelman being crowned Queen and Jaden Intallura King during halftime festivities.
The loss dropped Coudersport to 2-6 on the season as they host Otto-Eldred next week. Bucktail (1-5) stays at home this week for Senior Night 2026, where they will host a 5-3 Ridgeway/Johnsonburg team coming off a 32-15 loss to Port Allegany.