NTL FOOTBALL: SAYRE ROLLS OVER BUCKTAIL, 67-6, IN SEASON-OPENER (24 PHOTOS) (2019-08-24)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportSAYRE "” Sayre got off to a slow start, but started hitting on all cylinders late in the first quarter, scoring five TDs in 10 minutes on its way to a 67-6 season-opening shellacking of Bucktail Area in NTL Small School Division football action here Saturday afternoon at the Lockhart Street Bowl.
The Redskins piled up 497 yards in total offense, while limiting Bucktail to just 125, including 72 in the Bucks' game-opening drive that gave them an early 6-0 lead. Bucktail had just three first downs the remainder of the game, and turned the ball over six times.
"I kind of expect the slow starts," said Sayre coach Kevin Gorman. "Last year we had a habit of starting slow, I was hoping we would get over it. Hopefully, next week we get past it.
"I know some of the guys were a little jittery, especially some of the younger guys," he added.
The Redskins nearly answered Bucktail's score with one of their own on their first possession, but a high shotgun snap on fourth-and-one at the Bucks' 6 resulted in a 17-yard loss and a turnover on downs.
Five plays later, senior Isaiah Firestine pounced on a loose ball near midfield to give the Redskins possession, and sophomore QB Brayden Horton wasted little time in connecting with a leaping Ethan Miller in the end zone for a 24-yard TD to tie the game.
The drive also included a 10-yard pass to Miller and was aided by a 15-yard penalty on the Bucks for a helmet-to-helmet hit. Junior Nic Bentley made the PAT kick to give Sayre a 7-6 lead with 3:14 remaining in the first quarter.
Both teams went three-and-out on their next possessions, but Bucktail mishandled a punt and freshman Zack Garrity recovered the loose ball to give the Redskins the ball at the Bucks 12.
Brayden Horton found Miller open in the end zone 6 seconds later on a 12-yard TD pass to make it 13-6 with 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter, and the Redskins would find the end zone again before the end of the stanza.
Bucktail fumbled on its first play after the kickoff, and senior Jared Giggee wrestled it away from a Buck at the 15.
One play later, Brayden Horton connected with freshman Lucas Horton on a 15-yard TD as time expired in the opening quarter. Bentley's PAT made it 20-6.
Sayre's defense forced a punt on Bucktail's next possession, and the Redskins took over at their own 32.
Four plays later, Brayden Horton covered the final 46 yards to paydirt on a QB keeper around the left end to up the lead to 26-6 with 8:36 left in the first half.
Dylan Cross returned the ensuing kickoff to the Bucks' 47, but Bucktail turned the ball over on downs at the Sayre 45.
The Redskins overcame a pair of penalties, thanks in large part to runs of 13 and 42 yards by Firestine, and Brayden Horton found senior Pat Casterline open for a 14-yard TD to give Sayre a 34-6 lead it would carry into the halftime locker room.
"Defensively, after the first drive, we settled down, started gang-tackling, and stripping at the ball," said Gorman. "We created a bunch of turnovers - fumbles and interceptions. We had a couple of forced fumbles and recoveries on special teams."
After punting on its first possession of the second half, the Redskins scored on their first five possessions.
Firestine scored on runs of 13 and 1 yards, and sophomore David Northrup found the end zone on a 6-yard TD run to make it 54-6 with 1:10 left in the third quarter.
Lucas Horton connected with junior Tavone McClenny on a 17-yard TD pass with 11:33 left in the game.
Lucas Horton, who is also the punter, capped the scoring when he scooped up an off-target snap on a punt and sprinted down the Bucktail sideline 49 yards for a TD.
"Offensively, I don't think we were as fast as we want to be, but it was still pretty fast," said Gorman.
"I really liked what the second team did when they came in," he added. "They ran the offense fast, it was pretty impressive."
Brayden Horton completed 12 of 22 pass attempts for 147 yards and four TDs, and also ran for 58 yards and one TD on four carries. Lucas Horton was 2-for-2 for 32 yards and one TD.
"Brayden (Horton) looked good," Gorman said. "You can tell he started five games, and started in a playoff game, which for a freshman was pretty good.
"There are a few things to work on, but people forget he's only a sophomore," added Gorman. "He did a really nice job."
Firestine paced a Sayre running game that churned out 318 yards on 34 carries with 126 yards and two TDs on 15 carries. Lucas Horton added 79 yards and one TD on five carries, and Northrup had 39 yards and one TD on three carries.
"After our first couple possessions, our offensive line settled down and started moving people," said Gorman. "We have a very big offensive line that can move.
"Isaiah (Firestine) was finding the holes and running hard," added Gorman. "All the other backs, including Brayden (Horton) and Luke (Horton), were finding their way ... it's exciting to see that we don't have to rely on one back."
Gorman acknowledged it was a dominant performance, but noted it wasn't perfect.
"We need to clean things up, we had a lot of penalties (12 for 115 yards)," said Gorman. "We also need to clean up the PAT because that can mean the ball game.
"The offense and defense played well, but there are always things you can improve on," he added.
Sayre returns to action Friday at Towanda, which lost to Canton, 40-6, at home in its season opener.
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IN PHOTO 1: Sayre QB Brayden Horton. IN PHOTO 2: Sayre wideout Ethan Miller hauls in a TD catch. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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SAYRE 67, BUCKTAIL 6BUCK 6 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 6
SAY 20 - 14 - 20 -13 = 67
First QuarterB - Dylan Cross 2 run (Run fails), 7:44;
S - Ethan Miller 24 pass from Brayden Horton (Nic Bentley kick), 3:14;
S - Miller 13 pass from B. Horton (Kick blocked), :43;
S - Lucas Horton 15 pass from B. Horton (Bentley kick), :00.
Second QuarterS - B. Horton 46 run (Bentley kick), 8:36;
S - Pat Casterline 14 pass from B. Horton (Isaiah Firestine run), 5:09;
Third QuarterS - Firestine 13 run (Bentley kick), 8:43;
S - Firestine 1 run (Kick blocked), 5:09;
S - David Northrup 6 run (Bentley kick); 1:10.
Fourth QuarterS - Tavone McClenny 17 pass from L. Horton (Bentley kick), 11:33;
S - L. Horton 49 run (Kick failed), 4:00.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
SAYRE
PassingB. Horton 12-22-147-4-0, L.Horton 2-2-32-1-0.
RushingFirestine 15-126-2, L.Horton 5-79-1, B.Horton 4-58-1, Northrup 3-39-1, Jake Bennett 4-29, Zack Garrity 2-4, Team 1-(minus-17).
ReceivingBrown 5-52, Miller 4-53-2, McClenny 1-17-1, L.Horton 1-15-1, Bennett 1-15-1, Casterline 1-14-1, Zach Watkins 1-13.
BUCKTAIL
PassingDylan Cross 6-11-29-0-2.
RushingGage Sutliff 17-93, Cross 10-(minus-9)-1, Ashton Intallura 2-9, Conner Mason 7-3.
ReceivingLiam Dwyer 2-30, Robert Devaul 2-10, Sutliff 1-(minus-4), Mason 1-(minus-7).
TEAM STATS
RushingSayre 34-318-5; Bucktail 36-96.
PassingSayre 179; Bucktail 29
Total YardsSayre 497; Bucktail 125.
TurnoversSayre 0; Bucktail 6.
Fumbles / Fumbles LostSayre 0/0; Bucktail 7/4.
Interceptions by:Sayre: Firestine, Dominic Fabbri.
PenaltiesSayre 12-115; Bucktail 5-44.
