BUCYRUS — It wasn’t the return home that first-year Bucyrus coach Tim Plumley had envisioned.
Due to the rearranged schedule caused by the coronavirus, Plumley’s young Redmen had to face a veteran Wynford team in the first game of the season for the first time since 2001.
The Royals lived up to their preseason hype, despite the over two-hour weather delay at the start.
James Schiefer returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the game and quarterback Dustin Brady threw for four touchdowns as Wynford defeated their backyard rival, 54-6, to retain the Picking Copper Kettle for the 23rd straight year.
“The defense set the tone early with the big Pick 6,” Wynford coach Gabe Helbert said. “James has three pick sixes in scrimmages and games, so it was crazy that it was him again. He plays hard and makes plays and we were fortunate he made that big play because it just calmed everything down.”
The Royals made the pick on Bucyrus freshman quarterback Malachi Bayless making his first throw in a varsity game. While junior Gabe Higginbotham relieved Bayless in the second quarter, Plumley still has confidence in his freshman.
“I have high expectations for Malachi,” Plumley said. “He’s going to be a good quarterback. He’s a smart kid, he’s an athlete. He’s young, he’s learning how to handle his emotions. I know he’s down at the bottom right now, but he’s strong enough to climb his way to his way out of that.”
This Royals’ team has the potential to make a lot of quarterbacks — experienced or not — to look bad. Brady competed 17 of his 21 passes for 319 yards and four scores.
Wynford used a potent running game, however, to pile up a 33-0 first-quarter lead. Cody Taylor had two scores, from 32 yards and one yard and Trent Vaughn ran in from 31 yards. Brady hit Schiefer for a 36-yard scoring strike and the rout was on.
“We want to try to be multifaceted in a variety of ways,” Helbert said. “We feel we have two backs (Taylor and Kendall Blair) that can run the ball effectively — really three with Trent Vaughn — and we have lots of guys we can throw the ball to and catch it. Dustin does a great job of going thorough his progressions and getting the ball to the open guy.”
The Royals added 14 points in the second quarter to expand the lead to 47-0 by halftime. Brady threw for two more scores, on for 19 yards to Taylor and the second for 20 yards to Blair.
“They’re really good and they’re a physical team and we didn’t play very well,” Plumley said. “Our youth — we made a lot of mistakes and we didn’t respond well.”
Wynford scored its last touchdown in the third quarter on a 32-yard pass from Brady to Owen Whitmeyer, to make it 54-0.
“I thought our kids were focused and we saw that early on with the big Pick 6,” Helbert said. “We were able to jump on them early and often from that point. We’re proud of our kids to be able to stay focused and maintain their focus through (the rain delay).”
The Redmen avoided the shutout with a score in the fourth quarter when Higginbotham ran in from nine yards with 9:50 remaining. The junior who took a couple years off football led Bucyrus with 40 yards rushing on 20 carries. He also completed two of four passes for 42 yards.
“Gabe gave us a little spark running the ball,” Plumley said. “He hadn’t gotten many of the reps at QB this week, but he gave us a little spark.”
Braxton Lewis and Lane Carter caught Higginbotham’s two completions, for 23 and 19 yards respectively.
Blair grabbed three passes for 86 yards and a score and rushed for 43 yards on three carries. Taylor had three carries for 42 yards and two scores to go with his receiving touchdown. Lucas Hackworth had three rushes for 68 yards in a balanced Royals’ offense.
“We are not going to probably have huge numbers by any individual guy,” Helbert said. “And I appreciate that because we have a lot of guys who can play from a skill position standpoint.”
“It’s a learning process,” Plumley said. “We’ve got to get better each and every week and that’s what we talked about.”
“We’re going to enjoy 23 and work hard for 24 next year,” Helbert said. “I’m glad we’re taking home the Copper Kettle.”