Bucyrus ends rivalry drought with dominant 41-14 victory over Buckeye Central
The Redmen’s fast-paced offensive strategy secured their first series win against local rivals since 2022, placing the program above a .500 record at the season’s midway point for the first time since 2014.
Bucyrus High School has re-established its competitive footing in the Northern 10 conference, securing a decisive 41-14 victory over local rival Buckeye Central on Friday. The result marks the Redmen’s first win in the series since Week 9 of the 2022 season, a period that saw the program endure significant structural challenges under new head coach John Butchko.
The victory is particularly significant for the program’s recent trajectory. Following back-to-back winless seasons, Bucyrus snapped a 22-game losing streak last year with a 1-9 record. This week’s performance places the team at 3-2, a record that puts them above .500 at the midway point of the season for the first time since 2014, and just the eighth time since 2000.
Head coach John Butchko, who took over the program in 2024, noted the historical difficulty of the matchup. In his first year, the Redmen suffered a 55-14 defeat, followed by a 34-13 loss last season. Butchko attributed the turnaround to a specific game plan designed to exploit Buckeye Central’s current roster composition, which includes many young players still adjusting to the level of competition.
Bucyrus executed this strategy by employing a fast-paced offensive approach, aiming to keep the Bucks on the back foot. Quarterback Isaac Makeever led the charge, connecting with Da’Shawn Cosey for the opening score after a Buckeye Central offsides penalty. Makeever subsequently found Paten Deskins for a 40-yard touchdown pass, doubling the Redmen’s advantage early in the contest.
The second quarter saw a flurry of scoring activity. Makeever rushed for a 46-yard touchdown, followed 15 seconds later by an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Buckeye Central’s Madden Alt. Just 41 seconds after that, Wyatt Makeever added a 63-yard rushing score. The Redmen extended their lead to 34-7 by the intermission, with Makeever finding Cosey again before halftime.
Buckeye Central coach Jordan Phillips acknowledged that the Redmen’s up-tempo style caught his team by surprise. "They play fast, they know what their job is, and they do it," Phillips said. He noted that while his team is growing through the experience of playing young players, Bucyrus presented what he described as the best version of their team in a long time.
