TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur Buccaneers will make the two-hour plus trip Friday night to Ripley for their first road game of the young year.
Both teams will be looking for their first win as the Bucs dropped a 55-13 decision at home to No. 4 Bridgeport while Ripley lost on the road to unranked Brooke by a 48-0 score.
For Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Zach Davis, last week’s game is in the rear-view mirror for his team as they look forward to a new challenge this week.
“We are all about moving onto the next game and the next play,” stated Davis. “The team has already moved on from the Bridgeport game. We have had a good week out on the field and inside watching film.”
Davis said he feels you will see two very similar teams on the field Friday night.
“Ripley is always well-coached,” remarked Davis. “They do a good job of getting their guys ready. I think we are similar type of teams from similar type of communities. I think it will be a hard-nosed physical football game.”
Last week, Brooke’s quarterback Braelyn Sperringer threw for 154 yards and three touchdowns against the Ripley defense. That may play right into B-U’s hands as sophomore quarterback Dawson Tenney had a good game against Bridgeport throwing the ball completing eight of his 14 passes for 171 yards with no interceptions.
“Tenney was really good off the play-action against Bridgeport,” noted Davis. “For that to continue though we must be able to run the ball. We had 80 yards rushing against Bridgeport, we need to get that up around 150 or 200 yards and let the passing game feed off of that.”
The Ripley offense managed just 27 yards in the first half against Brooke and gave up four first-half sacks. The Vikings managed just 73 yards of total offense in the game.
“They struggled moving the ball against Brooke, but they have an impressive tailback in junior Isaac Creel,’ said Davis. “They have a good quarterback in Tyson Pritt. They have a typical good offensive line. They have the same type of player and team every year.”
Davis noted that winning the turnover battle will be a key for a B-U win Friday night. The Bucs lost two fumbles against the Indians last week.
“We need to win the turnover battle,” commented Davis. “In last year’s win against them, we did that. Outside of that, we just need to do what we do. Play how we know how to play.”
Davis said that his Bucs came out of the Bridgeport game healthy.
“Everyone will be good to go against Ripley,” noted Davis.
The last time the Bucs went to Ripley in 2021 they lost a 31-13 decision where over half of the Buccaneer team didn’t play because of COVID.
Davis remarked that game hasn’t been forgotten by his team or his staff.
“We are looking forward to making the trip,” concluded Davis. “We remember that game from two years ago. It’s in the back of our mind that we want a better showing this time around.”
The game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
