Middle School Football falls to Bucktail in shootout

By: Ed Weaver  /  September 23, 2016

The Wellsboro Middle School Football team dropped their second straight game with a 38-32 loss to Bucktail on Thursday, September 22.

Alex Moore opened up the scoring on the first drive with a touchdown run and Isaac Keane completed a pass to Kanan Keck for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0 Hornets.

Bucktail answered right back with the first of their successful scoring drives to make the score 8-6, Wellsboro.

Keane connected with Moore for the Hornets second score of the day, but the conversion attempt failed. After another Bucktail drive, Alex Moore would score his second running touchdown of the day before halftime, leaving the score 20-14 in favor of the Hornets at the half.

"Moore set the tone on offense all day long," head coach Shane Masco said. "We were able to put in some more wrinkles this week to keep their defense off balance. Darren Callahan had some nice runs and Kanan Keck continues to produce as a receiver. We liked our matchups in the passing game, and hope to be able to continue to grow in that area as the season progresses."

Bucktail was first to get the ball in the second half and scored to make the score 22-20 in favor of the Bucks. Moore returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, and on a failed conversion, made it 26-22 in favor of Wellsboro.

Bucktail again answered to make the game 30-26 Bucktail. Wellsboro countered with a drive capped off by a touchdown run by Keane.

In a game that appeared that the last team to have the ball would win, Bucktail put together a lengthy drive in the fourth quarter and scored with around a minute left in the game to take the lead.

The Hornets would not go quietly into the night, as they marched down the field to have the ball in the Red Zone with 20 seconds on the clock. The Wellsboro comeback bid ended when a Keane pass came up short of its target and was intercepted by Bucktail, ending the breathtaking game.

"Our defense could not get off the field today," continued Mascho. "They had a good back who we had to be more physical with and take better angles. We will go back to the drawing board defensively and examine personnel and work on fundamentals of tackling more this week."

The team is now 1-2 on the year and will be back in the road next Thursday, September 29 at Canton.