Bucks suffer shutout loss to Ridgway on Senior Night
KEVIN RAUCH/Special to the Sun-Gazette Bucktail held Military Appreciation Night along with their senior night 2026 Friday evening, where the school honored all of their fall athletes that will graduate in 2027. The night included military jerseys along with honoring each branch by carrying their flags as they took to the field in their final home game of the season.
KEVIN RAUCH/Special to the Sun-Gazette Bucktail honored its fall sports seniors at halftime Friday evening during halftime of Bucktail's loss to Ridgeway. Standing are (from left) Timmy Gentzyel, Aden Bauman, Steven Heiser, Patrick Tarantella, Kassidy Lovell, Riley Salizonni, Emma Getz, Jaden Intallura, Aidan Ditty and Dameon Bauman.
KEVIN RAUCH/Special to the Sun-Gazette Ridgway's Owen Steger grabbed a Corbin Pentz pass attempt intended for Branson Getz, as the Elkers routed the Bucks 48-0.
KEVIN RAUCH/Special to the Sun-Gazette Bucktail held Military Appreciation Night along with their senior night 2026 Friday evening, where the school honored all of their fall athletes that will graduate in 2027. The night included military jerseys along with honoring each branch by carrying their flags as they took to the field in their final home game of the season.
KEVIN RAUCH/Special to the Sun-Gazette Bucktail honored its fall sports seniors at halftime Friday evening during halftime of Bucktail's loss to Ridgeway. Standing are (from left) Timmy Gentzyel, Aden Bauman, Steven Heiser, Patrick Tarantella, Kassidy Lovell, Riley Salizonni, Emma Getz, Jaden Intallura, Aidan Ditty and Dameon Bauman.
KEVIN RAUCH/Special to the Sun-Gazette Ridgway's Owen Steger grabbed a Corbin Pentz pass attempt intended for Branson Getz, as the Elkers routed the Bucks 48-0.
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Bucktail Homecoming 2026 was the setting Friday evening as the Bucks hosted their last home game of the season, unfortunately the Ridgway/Johnsonburg Elkers played the role of spoiler. On three of their first four possessions the Elkers needed just one play to find the end-zone, as they jumped out to a 24-0 lead on their way to a 48-0 shut-out win.
The Bucks knew Ridgway would be one of their tougher opponents of the season, but particularly during the halftime break when seniors were honored alongside their family members, the loss didn't get in the way of Bucktail recognizing their 12th graders.
"This is a phenomenal group of students and players, led by our seven seniors" Bucktail coach Bruce Ransom said of his team's make-up.
"Jaden Intallura, Steven Heiser and Aidan Ditty have been a part of the Bucktail football program since they were in 7th grade, they have become leaders and the finest representation that we could have at our school" the coach offered.
"Aden and Dameon Bauman along with Timmy Gentyzel have worked so hard this season, they've become pillars of the team" the coach continued. "Timmy came out and worked his way onto the defensive line, becoming a starter over the last couple of games, a position that he truly earned through determination and effort".
"It was great having Patrick Tarantella return to football this year, his skill is great but it's his leadership that helped our team the most, he becomes a leader in anything that he is involved in" summed up the coach of his players in their final home game.
The Bucks first drive offered some promise against Ridgway. After being stopped on third down on their own side of the field near the fifty yard line, Bucktail's Corbin Pentz powered his way on a QB sneak up the middle of the line for a first down. But the momentum was short lived.
Elkers quarter back Cooper Pura dropped back on his team's first offensive play of the game and hooked up with Jace Zimmerman for a 68 yard strike to go up 8-0 after a two point conversion.
Zimmerman scored on a two yard TD run on Ridgway's next possession, before Marcus Gerg dashed for a 40 yard score a few minutes later, giving the visitors a 24-0 first quarter lead that they would double over the remaining three quarters, the latter two that were spent in a mercy rule situation.
The loss drops the Bucks to 1-6 as they will now head to Columbia Montour Vo-Tech next Saturday afternoon to take on the 1-8 Rams, whose sole win came by way of a forfeit over Jenkintown. The game will no doubt have both teams looking to end their seasons on a winning note. The 6-3 Elkers will be at Punxsutawney this coming Friday night.