by The Buckeye Bucks stay unbeaten as they roll over the Lakewood Rangers 52-7. With their effective run game, the Bucks posted 435 yards on the ground with only four passing plays in the game. There were 5 ball carriers on the Bucks who had over 50 yards rushing. Quarterback Casey Murray was perfect, going 4/4 for 119 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Buck’s defense was also lights out as it held Lakewood to just 195 total yards of offense. The Lakewood offense couldn’t get anything going thanks to the dangerous pass rush of the Bucks. They were shut out all game, except for the first drive.
1st Quarter
The Lakewood offense on the opening drive looked dominant. Quarterback Avery Holt had already gained 30 yards on a run on the first play. Two plays later, Holt connected with wide receiver Jaylen Chappell for a 53-yard touchdown pass to take the lead.
The Bucks would answer immediately. Thanks to a 54-yard pass from Murray to tight end Treytan Widenmeyer, the Bucks scored on a 13-yard touchdown run by Gage Nagy (6 carries, 74 yards, 3 touchdowns). The second drive of Lakewood was looking dominant again, but penalties and pressure from the Bucks defensive line forced them to punt. The Bucks would score again, this time from Murray. Murray faked the hand off to running back Troy McCann (9 carries, 101 yards, 1 touchdown) and kept it, running it for 52-yards for the touchdown after stiff arming a defender to the ground.
Lakewood would almost convert a first down on their next drive, but Holt was stopped just short of the first down. Buckeye would continue rolling on offense as a 36-yard screen pass from Murray to Zach Onorati set up a 22-yard McCann rushing touchdown. McCann ran over at least two defenders before the end zone as it looked like he was going to come up just short.
2nd Quarter
The next quarter got ugly for Lakewood. The offense could not get anything going, and the defense could not stop the run. What was worse, special teams were coming up short as well. Punt returns by Ranger Metter helped set up the Bucks in Lakewood territory that resulted in 4-yard touchdown runs by Gage Nagy and Ryan Wilhelm (10 carries, 94 yards, 1 touchdown). Lakewood would also muff a kickoff return, losing the ball and being recovered by Bucks linebacker Derek Snyderburn. This would set up a 12-yard touchdown tun by Nagy. After another three and out by Lakewood, Nagy would once again find the end zone from 27 yards out. This time taking out defenders left and right as he punished them for trying to tackle him.
2nd Half
With a running clock in effect, the second half passed quickly. Buckeye brought in some of their backups as they continued to run the ball the entire second half. Running backs such as Ryan Wilhelm and Brayden Sopko (8 carries, 73 yards) got a chance to prove themselves as they dominated on the ground too. Backups on defense were also put in, and that didn’t stop them from continuing to shut down Lakewood’s offense.
With that, the Bucks held onto the ball for the majority of the half. The Rangers fell to 2-5 as they lose their 5th straight game. They will hope to end that streak next week as they defend their home from the Normandy Invaders. The Bucks on the other hand, continue to dominate as they stay undefeated at 7-0. They will be on the road again to take on in-conference rival Valley Forge.
Player of the Game
The player of the game should go to the entire Bucks running back room. But unfortunately, there can only be one. Gage Nagy ran for 74 yards on only 6 carries while scoring three touchdowns and having a tackle for loss on defense.
