Tyson Gray goes up for a reception during Bucksports 28-21 win at Dexter Saturday, September 15, 2018. Photo courtesy of Rick McHale from Bucksport Sports (click to enlarge)
DEXTER, Me- The Bucksport Golden Bucks football team used a big second quarter, then held to hold on late for a 28-21 win over the Dexter Tigers at Dexter Saturday afternoon in a Class D North contest.
Dexter (2-1) took their one and only lead with 4:31 left in the opening quarter when quarterback Logan Perkins scored on a one yard sneak to make it 7-0. The second quarter however belonged to the visiting Bucks. Early in the second Bucksport (3-0) got a one yard TD run by Lucas Wardwell to tie the game 7-7. On the Tigers next possession and forced to punt on fourth down, the Bucks blocked the kick and Cameron Soper recovered at the Dexter 18. Just 43 seconds later Carter Tolmasoff scored on a six yard run to give Bucksport the lead they would never relinquish at 14-7.
Later in the second, Wardwell scored his second of the day on the ground from five yards out, and with just 12 seconds left in the half Tolmasoff caught an 18 yard touchdown from quarterback Brady Findlay to make it 28-7 at the half. The Bucks held the Tigers to just 21 total yards in the first half.
Dexter picked up some defensive intensity in the third quarter and held the score at 28-7. Early in the fourth on the first play after a Bucksport turnover deep in their own territory, Dillion Allen scampered into the end zone for a 22 yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-14 with still 10 minutes to play. Two takeaways in the fourth quarter helped the Tigers get back into the game. With just under two minutes left after the second Bucks turnover, Allen ran in from 10 yards out and all of a sudden it was a one score game. Dexter stopped Bucksport on downs after a failed onside kick using their timeouts as well to force a punt. The Tigers needed to go 79 yards with 1:15 left to force overtime. But Perkins was sacked twice inside his own 10 as the clock ticked down. His final attempt out near midfield went incomplete as time expired.
Findlay finished the day 10-17 passing for the Bucks, for 128 yards and a touchdown. Tolmasoff scored a pair of touchdowns one in the air and one on the ground, finishing with six receptions for 75 yards and 11 rushes for 48 yards. Wardwell had 17 carries for 61 yards and the two scores. After a slow start Dexter had 144 second half yards. Perkins had a tough day, passing 2-6 for 34 yards and one interception. He also added eight rushes but for -1 in yards. Allen had a big day out of the Tigers backfield, rolling up 106 yards on 15 carries (97 yards in second half), and two touchdowns.
Both teams return to action next Friday night at 7 pm, as Bucksport hosts Foxcroft Academy in a matchup of 3-0 teams, while Dexter travels to Mattanawcook.
BKS 0 28 0 0- 28
DEX 7 0 0 14- 21
Total yards- Dexter 165 Bucksport 272
Turnovers- Dexter 1 Bucksport 3
