Bucksport runs past Ponies in regular season finale
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Nearly everything went right for Bucksport High School in a 53-0 victory at Foxcroft Academy to close out the regular season on Friday, Oct. 25. The Golden Bucks, the team finishes at 7-0 and earned the top seed for the Class D North football playoffs, scored seven touchdowns in the opening half and had a 250-12 advantage in net offensive yards and 13-1 edge in first downs (16-3 for the game) over the first 24 minutes.
Foxcroft ends the 2019 regular season with a record of 3-5, dropping three straight and five of the last six games. The Ponies will be the fifth seed for the playoffs, and are set to travel to No. 4 Houlton High School (4-4) for a quarterfinal at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1 — Bucksport awaits the winner after a bye week. Foxcroft traveled to southern Aroostook County on Oct. 4 and defeated the Shiretowners 33-21.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
KICKOFF COVERAGE — Foxcroft junior Luke Stedman falls on a short kickoff ahead of Bucksport players, from left, senior Hunter Pelletier and juniors Jacob Guty and Owen Gaudreau during an Oct. 25 game. Bucksport won 53-0.
At Oakes Field on Friday evening, Bucksport kept the ball on the ground to control the clock with the team’s first pass — with the exception of a 2-point conversion try — not coming until the second quarter.
After the Ponies deferred, the Golden Bucks used eight plays on the ground to move the football 62 yards to the Foxcroft 5-yard line. On first-and-goal freshman Jaxon Gross extended before being fully wrapped up to cross the goalline for the touchdown. He would end the night with three trips to the endzone and 108 yards on 14 carries.
The Bucksport defense followed by forcing a three-and-out and two plays quickly moved the offense from the team’s own 45 to the Pony-8. On a second-and-1 sophomore Josh Miller also extended to get the football over the line for the touchdown. Miller would have another touchdown run as he gained a game-high 175 yards on the ground in 15 attempts.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
RUN RIGHT — Sophomore Jesse Drury looks to get around the edge with freshman Caden Crocker blocking in front of him against Bucksport senior Cameron Soper.
Down 13-0, Foxcroft tried to jump start the offense with a fake punt on the ensuing possession on a fourth-and-13 in the team’s own territory. Junior punter Logan Martin ended up getting tackled at the Foxcroft-30 for a loss on the play.
Three plays later Miller scored on a 15-yard sweep to the right to put his team on top 21-0. Four second quarter-touchdowns put the team ahead 47-0 at the half, and set a running clock up for the second half.
Before kickoff, senior players and cheering team members were recognized. The Class of 2020 honorees are Jed Dean, Duke Nguyen, Josh Tibbetts and Issac Weymouth and Taylor Hibbard, Jakob Maynard, Grace McLaughlin and Steffi Victoria of the cheering squad.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
QUARTERBACK RUN — Pony sophomore Austin Seavey scrambles during the first quarter of the regular season finale vs. Bucksport on Oct. 25. Foxcroft will play at Houlton in a 4-5 quarterfinal matchup on Friday evening.
FOOTBALL
Bucksport 53,
Foxcroft 0
BUC 21 26 6 0 | 53
FOX 0 0 0 0 | 0
First: B — J. Gross 5 yds
(Giberson kick)
B — Miller 8 yds (kick blocked)
B — Miller 15 yds
(Soper from Findlay)
Second: B — J. Gross 15 yds
(Giberson kick)
B– Soper 23-yd fumble return
(kick blocked)
B — J. Gross 5 yds (kick blocked)
B — Stanley 8 yds from Findlay
(no kick)
Third: B — Stanley 40-yd Int return
(kick wide)
Passing: B — Findlay 4-of-8
32 yds TD; Hallett 0-of-1
F — Seavey 6-of-13 2 Int
46 yds; Martin 0-of-1 Int
Receiving: B — Giberson 1,
16 yds; Stanley 1, 8 yds TD;
Hallett 1, 8 yds;
J. Gross 1, 0 yds
F — Dean 3, 41 yds; Crocker
1, 2 yds; Martin 1, 2 yds;
Stedman 1, 1 yd
Rushing: B — Miller 15,
175 yds 2 TD; J. Gross 14,
108 yds 3 TD; Giberson
8, 88 yds; Hallett 1,
6 yds; Stanley 1, 4 yds;
Terry 5, -6 yds
F — Martin 9, 24 yds;
Crocker 6, 20 yds;
Drury 2, 10 yds;
Seavey 2, 7 yds
Records: B 7-0,
F 3-5