TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School football team used some big scoring plays early in their game with Lincoln to roll to a 40-8 victory Thursday night at Freal “Red” Crites Memorial Stadium

The Little Bucs had three scoring runs of over 20 yards in the first half as they rolled into a 32-0 lead at the break and cruised in the second half to their 32-point victory in the home opener.

The Little Bucs had their first three contests played on the road.

“It was nice to be at home,” remarked Buckhannon-Upshur head coach Dave Chipps.”We have seen a lot of improvement from this team as the season continues. We are tackling better, we are executing better and not making the mental mistakes. We played a good, clean game.”

The Little Bucs scored on their opening possession in just three plays as Brody Jeran ran it in from the left side from 27 yards out.

Jeran then caught the two-point conversion pass from Dawson Tenney to put B-UMS up 8-0.

Lincoln fumbled the ball away on its first drive as the Little Bucs recovered it at their own 49-yard line.

Four plays later, they found the end zone as Tenney scored on a 24-yard scamper.

Tenney ran it in for the two-point conversion as the Little Bucs led 16-0 with 5:01 remaining in the first quarter.

Following an interception at the B-UMS four-yard line by Tenney, the Little Bucs took over and marched 96 yards in eight plays as Jeran scored on a 38-yard touchdown run with 5:57 showing on the second-quarter clock.

Tenney ran in the two-point conversion over the right side to treat the Little Bucs to a 24-0 lead.

B-UMS scored on its fourth straight possession of the half after stopping Lincoln on a fake punt attempt.

Starting at the Lincoln 36-yard line, the Little Bucs found the end zone in five plays when Aidan Phillips went over left tackle for a four-yard run making it a 30-0 contest.

Levi Posey hauled in the two-point pass from Tenney as the Little Bucs upped their lead to 32-0.

The Little Bucs’ lone score of the second half was a one-yard run by Forest Catlin in the third quarter.

Jeran’s run for the two-point conversion was good as the Little Bucs took a 40-0 lead.

Lincoln avoided the shutout with a fourth-quarter score when Connor Rice scored from seven-yards out and A.J. Bart ran in the two-point conversion for the final 40-8 score.

“We played well,” concluded Chipps. “As I said, we have improved quite a bit since week one. I really felt in our two losses we let those games get away from us.”

The Little Bucs are now 2-2 on the season and will return to action Thursday hosting 4-0 Taylor County.

The game will kick-off at 6:30 p.m.