TENNERTON – The effort was there but the No. 20 Buckhannon-Upshur Buccaneers simply couldn’t keep up with the No. 19 University Hawks in a 42-14 setback in non-conference action Friday night at Freal “Red” Crites Memorial Stadium.
“We are always ready to play as our coaching staff does a great job in getting us prepared each Friday,” stated Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Zach Davis. “We came out ready to play. We didn’t execute on two plays in the first half that we know we can make; it might be a different ball game in the opening 30 minutes.”
Buckhannon-Upshur went into the game with freshman quarterback Brody McDaniels making his first start and he played well, completing 12 of his 24 passes for 132 yards.
“Brody is a good player, and we are confident with him at quarterback,” stated Davis.
University scored on their first possession on an 11-yard run by Melique Lewis.
On their first drive, the Bucs went for a reverse and the pitch was fumbled and scooped up by University’s Trey Blunt who went 48 yards for the score.
“That was disappointing,” remarked Davis. “The play was there; at worst we get a first down and possibly even more.”
The Bucs answered with an impressive drive going 73 yards in just seven plays as Wyatt Morris broke free for a 27-yard touchdown run up the middle with 5:11 left in the first quarter. A 30-yard pass from McDaniels to Ian Strader helped set up the score.
The Hawks came right back on their next drive and Ethan Jackson caught a five-yard pass for the score putting UHS up 21-7.
University added one more first-half score, a four-yard run by Jackson making it 28-7.
University took 42-7 advantage with a pair of third quarter touchdowns, an 11-yard touchdown catch by Jackson from Luke Hudson and a three-yard touchdown keeper by Hudson.
The Bucs had the lone score in the fourth quarter, a five-yard run by Bryson Johnston.
Despite the final score, total yards weren’t that far apart as University gained 317 yards while the Bucs compiled 291 yards.
Lewis led the Hawk ground game with 94 yards on 14 attempts.
Hudson completed 15 of his 20 passes for 210 yards and two scores with Jackson being his favorite target with five catches for 51 yards.
B-U was led by Morris who finished with 89 yards and one score on 14 attempts.
Strader led the B-U wide receivers with five catches for 70 yards.
University improved to 3-3 on the year while the Bucs dropped to 2-4.
Buckhannon-Upshur will host Lewis County next Friday at 7 p.m.
Lewis County will enter the game with a 3-2 record after beating Lincoln 41-34 Friday night.
“This one didn’t go our away, but again I am proud of the effort and fight in our team,” concluded Davis. “We have a game next Friday with Lewis County, and we will want to get that “Pick” back on our side. I think we have plenty of things to build on from this game.”
The boxscore:
University 21 7 14 0 – 42
Buckhannon-Upshur 7 0 0 7 – 14
(Scoring)
University – Melique Lewis 11-yard run (John Coleman kick).
University – Trey Blunt, 48-yard fumble return (Coleman kick).
Buckhannon-Upshur – Wyatt Morris, 27-yard run (Wyatt Mason kick).
University – Ethan Jackson, 5-yard pass from Luke Hudson (Coleman kick).
University – Jackson, 4-yard run (Coleman kick).
University – Jackson, 11-yard pass from Hudson (Brady Goodenow kick)
University – Hudson, 3-yard run (Goodenow kick).
Buckhannon-Upshur – Bryson Johnston, 5-yard run (Mason kick).
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs – University: 17 (9 rushing, 6 passing, 2 penalty); Buckhannon-Upshur: 15 (8 rushing, 6 passing, 1 penalty).
Rushing yards – University: 25-100; Buckhannon-Upshur: 33-159.
Passing yards – University: 217; Buckhannon-Upshur: 132.
Total yards – University: 317; Buckhannon-Upshur: 291.
Passes – University: 16-21-0; Buckhannon-Upshur: 12-25-2.
Penalties – University: 7-40; Buckhannon-Upshur: 2-15.
Punts – University: 3-49.3; Buckhannon-Upshur: 2-33.0.
Fumbles – University: 0 Buckhannon-Upshur: 2.
Fumbles lost – University: 0; Buckhannon-Upshur: 1.
All-return yards – University: 128; Buckhannon-Upshur: 39.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
University –Melique Lewis 14-94 (1 touchdown); Josh Jorge 3-16; Ethan Jackson 1-4 (1 touchdown); team 2-(-2); Luke Hudson 4-(-4) (1 touchdown); Jack Byrer 1-(-8). Totals 25- 100 (3 touchdowns).
Buckhannon-Upshur – Wyatt Morris 14-89 (1 touchdown); Bryson Johnston 12-67 (1 touchdown); Daniel Hedrick 4-7; Drake Davis 2-5; Brody McDaniels 1-(-9). Totals 33-159 (2 touchdowns).
Passing
University – Hudson 15-for-20 for 210 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions; Byrer 1-for-1 for 7 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Totals 16-for-21 for 217 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
Buckhannon-Upshur – McDaniels 12-for-24 for 132 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions; Johnston 0-for-1 for 0 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Totals 12-for-25 for 132 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
Receiving
University – Jackson 5-51 (1 touchdown); Gavin Porter 2-58; Lewis 2-12; John Coleman 1-37; Buck Jones 1-22; James Fortney-Garbart 1-15; Antwon Watson 1-8; Kaleil Lewis 1-7; Hayden George 1-7. Totals 16-217 (2 touchdowns).
Buckhannon-Upshur – Ian Strader 5-70; Johnston 4-34; Cooper Antolini 2-14; Davis 1-14. Totals 12-132.
