The Buckeye Bucks’ play-off run and football season came to an end with a loss to Rocky River, 32-15, on Friday. It was the second loss in three weeks to the Pirates, who beat the Bucks 23-12 on Oct. 22.
The Pirates (9-3), move on to face West Holmes on Friday, and the Bucks take a successful season home, in which they went 8-4 with a 4-0 Great Lakes East league record. They outscored their opponents 280-204 during the year, but that wasn’t enough on game day against Rocky River, who outscored THEIR opponents, 406-206 on the year.
The first quarter was a defensive battle, with the Pirates holding a 3-0 lead. In the second quarter, with Rocky River up 15-7, the Bucks were on a long drive that stalled at the Pirates, 2-yard line. Rocky River twice stopped Bucks leading rusher Ben Barnes, then forced quarterback Jaden May to fire an incomplete on fourth down to turn the ball over.
The momentum from that point on was in the Pirates’ favor. Even with the play-off loss, the Bucks can take a strong season home with them, and while replacing 125 top-squad seniors will be a challenge, the Bucks look to continue their roll in 2022.
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