Bucks Win Homecoming Thriller on Last-Second Touchdown
| Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUC | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
| VAL | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
MEDINA, Ohio - Denis Shevchenko scored on a 5-yard run with seven seconds remaining to lift the Buckeye High School Athletics Bucks to a 19-14 homecoming victory over Valley Forge on Friday, September 18, at Edwin Steingass Field. The touchdown erased a one-point deficit and delivered a dramatic finish after the Bucks had surrendered an early 13-0 lead.
Shevchenko opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run with 5:14 left in the first quarter, and Gavin Waltos added the extra point for a 7-0 advantage. Liam Phillips extended the lead with a 7-yard touchdown run at the 11:54 mark of the second quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving Buckeye ahead 13-0.
Valley Forge rallied behind Justin Purcel, whose 25-yard touchdown pass to Logan Melinsky came with six seconds remaining before halftime. Purcel’s extra point cut the margin to 13-7. A 14-yard touchdown run and another extra point by Purcel put Valley Forge ahead 14-13 with 4:58 left in the third quarter. Buckeye answered with Shevchenko’s winning touchdown in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter; the two-point rushing attempt failed.
The Bucks built their offense entirely on the ground, gaining 348 rushing yards on 56 carries. Phillips powered that effort with 222 yards and a touchdown on 33 attempts, while Shevchenko added 114 yards and two scores on 17 carries. Buckeye earned all 21 of its first downs by rushing, converted five of 10 third-down attempts and succeeded on both fourth-down tries.
Buckeye’s defense limited Valley Forge to 227 total yards, including 112 rushing yards, and held the visitors scoreless in the fourth quarter. Shevchenko led the Bucks with 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Colton Homchik contributed seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Phillips added five tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. Mason Dolata also recorded five tackles.
The Bucks overcame four turnovers to secure the homecoming win. Nick Prouza contributed a 33-yard kickoff return and a pass breakup, and Homchik averaged 36.7 yards on three punts, placing one inside the 20. The Bucks will look to string wins together in their next contest on Friday, Oct. 2, against Normandy.
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