All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Football Bucs run for 230 yards against John Marshall but four turnovers cost them in 33-14 loss

Savion Farmer (19) ran for 101 yards and a touchdown in B-U's 33-14 setback to John Marshall Friday night at Freal "Red" Crites Memorial Stadium. (Brian Bergstrom/My Buckhannon)

TENNERTON – Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Zach Davis wanted a fast start from his Buccaneers in their non-conference encounter with John Marshall Friday night at Freal “Red” Crites Memorial Stadium.

The Bucs scored first early in the second quarter taking a 7-0 lead but they were their own worst enemy after that, turning the ball over four times — each time in their own end of the field, giving John Marshall short fields to work with.

The final result was a 33-14 setback for the Bucs in their home opener on Homecoming Night.

“We had too many turnovers,” remarked a dejected Davis after the game. “We were able to move the ball but you can’t turn it over that many times. We execute these plays so well in practice, then we get into a live game and it’s a different deal. Doing it right in practice isn’t the same as doing it correctly in a game. We just have to get better in that regard.”

The Bucs ran the ball extremely well against the Monarchs, piling up 230 yards on 44 attempts averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

Savion Farmer went over the 100-yard mark for the Buccaneers as he gained 101 yards on 16 carries with one score.

It was his rushing touchdown that put the Bucs ahead 7-0.

The Bucs took over possession of the ball at their own 34-yard line following a John Marshall punt.

The Bucs went 66 yards in eight plays, all on the ground, with Farmer capping the drive with an eight-yard run.

Cameron Zuliani was good on her extra-point kick as the Bucs went up by seven.

John Marshall answered with a score on their next drive on a nine-yard run by Klypson Wallace, but the extra-point kick came-up short, leaving the Bucs up 7-6.

The Monarchs intercepted a B-U pass setting up their next score taking over at the Buccaneer 35-yard line.

Seven plays later, Wallace ran it in from a yard out for the score.

The two-point conversion came up short but the Monarchs led by a 12-7 count.

John Marshall scored on the final play of the first half on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Jacob Coffield after the clock was inadvertently stopped on the previous play.

Connor Fitzpatrick was true on his extra-point kick as John Marshall took a 19-7 lead into the break.

“That was a big momentum shift,” noted Davis. “I thought the clock should have run out.”

The Monarchs added to their lead in the third quarter with a pair of scores, a one-yard run by Coffield and a three-yard run by Wallace for a 33-7 lead.

B-U’s Liam Garcia outraced the Monarch defense for a 54-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to wrap up the scoring for his second score of the season.

“We were physical and tough in the game, we got after people,” stated Davis. “John Marshall is a good football that is probably going to finish with seven or eight wins. We were right there with them, but we just have to fix some things. We are playing our tails off, we are headed in the right direction. We just have to pick ourselves after this one and keep moving forward.”

The Bucs, now 1-3 on the season, will return to action next Friday as the host Lewis County at 7 p.m.

The boxscore:

John Marshall 0  19  14  0 – 33

Buckhannon-Upshur 0  7  0  7 – 14

Scoring

Buckhannon-Upshur – Savion Farmer, 8-yard run (Cameron Zuliani kick).

John Marshall – Klypson Wallace, 9-yard run (kick failed).

John Marshall – Wallace 1-yard run (run failed).

John Marshall – Jacob Coffield, 1-yard run (Connor Fitzpatrick kick).

John Marshall – Coffield, 1-yard run (Fitzpatrick kick).

John Marshall – Wallace, 3-yard run (Fitzpatrick kick).

Buckhannon-Upshur – Liam Garcia, 54-yard run (Zuliani kick).

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs – John Marshall: 15 (10 rushing, 5 passing, 0 penalty); Buckhannon-Upshur: 12 (11 rushing, 0 passing, 1 penalty).

Rushing yards – John Marshall: 40-230; Buckhannon-Upshur: 44-230.

Passing yards – John Marshall: 112; Buckhannon-Upshur: 2.

Total yards – John Marshall: 342; Buckhannon-Upshur: 232.

Passes – John Marshall: 10-14-2; Buckhannon-Upshur: 2-5-2.

Penalties – John Marshall: 4-45; Buckhannon-Upshur: 3-14.

Punts – John Marshall: 3-42.3; Buckhannon-Upshur: 4-35.5.

Fumbles – John Marshall: 1; Buckhannon-Upshur: 4.

Fumbles lost – John Marshall: 1; Buckhannon-Upshur: 2.

All-Return Yards – John Marshall: 25; Buckhannon-Upshur: 52.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

John Marshall – Ben McCardle 5-105; Klypson Wallace 13-46 (3 touchdowns); DiMario White 4-45; J. D. Wells 6-31; Jacob Coffield 8-20 (2 touchdowns); Brennan Sobutka 1-3; team 3-(-20). Totals 40-230 (5 touchdowns).

Buckhannon-Upshur – Savion Farmer 16-101 (1 touchdown); Liam Garcia 5-68 (1 touchdown); Luke Yardley 7-31; Zach Mayle 6-18; Elijah Bryant 4-15; Ian Donnen 4-2; Sterlin Thropp 2-(-5). Totals 44-230 (2 touchdowns).

Passing

John Marshall – Coffield 9-for-13 for 114 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions; Brennan Sobutka 1-for-1 for (-2) yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Totals 10-for-14 for 112 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.

Buckhannon-Upshur – Donnen 2-for-5 for 2 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.

Receiving

John Marshall – Braden Sobutka 3-53; Nate Menendez 2-29; Wesley Hughes 2-13; White 1-14; Koda Moore 1-5; Mason Hagedom 1-(-2). Totals 10-112.

Buckhannon-Upshur – Bryant 1-3; Thropp 1-(-1). Totals 2-2.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Moon Flower opens first satellite store at Delmonte Market in Elkins

Moon Flower Hemp, a woman-owned craft cannabis shop, is opening its first satellite location inside Elkins’s Delmonte Market, offering exclusive products, infused drinks, educational support and special perks for early customers.

Buckhannon Community Theatre’s ‘The Lion King Kids’ set to roar at Colonial Arts Center this weekend

Buckhannon Community Theatre will present Disney’s The Lion King Kids on June 20 and 21 at the Colonial Arts Center, showcasing young local talent in a family-friendly production directed by Ella McNeish.

Buckhannon Consolidated Public Works Board Agenda: June 26, 2025

The City of Buckhannon Consolidated Public Works Board has released the agenda for its upcoming June 26, 2025, meeting.

B-U’s Landon Marple earns All-State baseball honors

Buckhannon-Upshur senior Landon Marple, who led his team in multiple offensive categories, was named to the West Virginia Sports Writers Association Class AAAA All-State Baseball Team as an Honorable Mention.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Kelly Povroznik earns certification in integrative and functional nutrition

Kelly Povroznik, Director of Food and Nutrition Services at WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, has earned certification as an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner, bringing advanced holistic nutrition expertise to her patients and community.

Upshur County Sheriff Mike Coffman says numerous community complaints led to vape shop raids

Community complaints about Upshur County vape shops selling to minors prompted a months-long investigation that led to multi-agency raids, seizure of $500,000 in illegal products, and an ongoing probe with arrests likely.

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for June 19, 2025

Argo Books is launching a community co-op, the Upshur County Library has won a grant for new computer classes, Meals on Wheels needs volunteers, and Fish Hawk Acres has resumed ‘grab & go’ service but paused breakfast.

Weese family legacy burns bright as Brandon coaches Flame 304 to new growth

Brandon Weese is continuing his family’s Buckhannon-Upshur basketball legacy by coaching the Flame 304 girls travel team, which now features players from multiple counties and emphasizes both athletic and personal growth.

Upshur County pool splashes back from repairs, continues busy summer with activities, parties and night swims

After a multi-day closure for repairs, the Upshur County Pool is reopening with a packed summer schedule featuring lessons, parties, night swims, and new event packages, positioning it for one of its busiest seasons yet.