Ponies’ season ends at Bucksport

BUCKSPORT — Two weeks after meeting in the regular season finale in Dover-Foxcroft, a 53–0 victory for visiting Bucksport High School, Foxcroft Academy and the Golden Bucks met again on Friday, Nov. 8 in a Class D North/Little Ten Conference semifinal. The score changed at 49-12 but the end result was the same as top-seeded Bucksport (8-0) won vs. the No. 5 Ponies (who end the year at 4-6) to move on to the regional final.

The Golden Bucks, playing for the first time since the game at Oakes Field following a quarterfinal bye, kept the ball on the ground to build a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter behind three rushing touchdowns.

The second of these came on a 78-yarder by sophomore Josh Miller who gained 146 yards in the first quarter and 313 yards on 23 carries with two trips to the endzone for the game. Bucksport freshman Jaxon Gross rushed for 192 yards, including three touchdowns, as the team gained more than 550 total yards on the ground.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
55-YARD JET SWEEP — Foxcroft junior Logan Martin follows a block by senior Jed Dean on Bucksport junior Jacob Guty on his way to a 55-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of a Class D North semifinal on Nov. 8 in Bucksport. The fifth-seeded Ponies’ season came to an end with a 49-12 loss to the No. 1 Golden Bucks.

With the score 20-0, the ensuing Bucksport kickoff bounced on the snow-dotted field and rolled to the Foxcroft-20 where Pony junior Logan Martin scooped up the pigskin. Martin ran to his right behind a wall of blockers, who paved the way as he sprinted down the sideline for the touchdown — the PAT was blocked to keep the score 20-6.

Later in the second quarter with the score still 20-6, Bucksport got into the redzone where a timeout stopped the clock with 1:22 to go and the ball at the Foxcroft 19-yard line. On first down the football came loose and Foxcroft sophomore Anthony Smith made the recovery at the 21-yard line.

Following the turnover, Foxcroft took to the air on first down. A pass by sophomore Austin Seavey ended up getting intercepted by Bucksport junior Logan Stanley whose short return gave his team possession at the 27-yard line. He ended up making a catch on offense for a 27-yard touchdown reception just before the half with the 2-point conversion rush putting Bucksport ahead 28-6.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SCRAMBLING FOR A FIRST DOWN — Sophomore quarterback Austin Seavey rushes for a 16-yard gain before being brought down by Bucksport junior Jacob Guty at the Golden Bucks’ 24-yard line during the first quarter. Looking on is Pony junior Levi Stedman (11) and sophomore Anthony Smith (71) and Bucksport freshman Jaxon Gross.

The Pony offense would later add to the team’s point total with Bucksport ahead 42-6 in the fourth quarter and the running clock rule going into effect. A short kickoff return by junior Lucas Ames set Foxcroft up at the Pony-45.

On first down Martin came in motion from right to left on a jet sweep as he got the handoff from Seavey. Martin found a seam down the left sideline and he ran 55 yards for the touchdown, finishing with a team-high 66 yards on the ground in a pair of attempts.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SPECIAL TEAMS TACKLE — Pony junior Sam Robinson brings down the returner on a second quarter kickoff as classmates Brevin DeLoretto (57) and Lucas Ames rush in.

The meeting was the third straight postseason matchup between Foxcroft and Bucksport, the Ponies defeated the Golden Bucks in the Class D North championship in 2017 and 2018. Bucksport is scheduled to host No. 2 Dexter Regional High School (8-1) in the 2019 regional finale on Friday, Nov. 15.

FOOTBALL
CLASS D NORTH
SEMIFINAL
No. 1 Bucksport 49,
No. 5 Foxcroft 12
F 0 6 0 6 | 12
B 14 14 6 15 | 49
First: B — J. Gross 1 yd
(pass fail)
B — Miller 78 yds
(Giberson from Findlay)
Second: B — J. Gross 8 yds
(rush fail)
F — Martin 80-yd kick return
(kick blocked)
B — Stanley 27 yds from
Findlay (J. Gross rush)
Third: B — Miller 29 yds
(pass fail)
Fourth: B — J. Gross 2 yds
(Stanley from Findlay)
F — Martin 55 yds
(pass fail)
B — Giberson 8 yds
(Giberson kick)
Passing: B — Findlay
2-of-3 35 yds TD
F — Seavey 4-of-10
71 yds
Receiving: B — Stanley
1, 27 yds TD; Giberson 1,
8 yds
F — Stedman 2, 46 yds;
Ames 1, 17 yds; Martin
1, 8 yds
Rushing: B — Miller
23, 313 yds 2 TD;
J. Gross 19, 192 yds
3 TD; Giberson 5,
29 yds TD; Stanley
2, 14 yds
F — Martin 2, 66 yds TD;
Seavey 2, 16 yds;
Crocker 6, 6 yds’
Drury 2, -2 yds;
Ames 1, -2 yds
Records: B — 8-0,
F — 4-6

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
IN COLD PURSUIT — Sophomore Jesse Drury runs over small patches of snow after Bucksport sophomore Ty Giberson during the Nov. 8 semifinal.