Ricky Buckler has been a statistical stud his entire Bellevue career.
But the senior running back saved something extra for the final regular-season game of his career.
Buckler had 49 carries for a school-record 362 yards in a 41-28 win over Lloyd on Friday.
Buckler also scored four touchdowns, giving him the Tigers’ all-time points record. Buckler finished this regular season with 200 points, and he has over 400 for his career, passing Matt Sutkamp to set the quarter-century old school record.
“He has just been such a phenomenal player during his career, and the thing that stands out about him, but when we gave him the ball to signify the record for most yards in a game, most career points, he recognized that that ball represented the team, and those were team records,” Bellevue coach David Eckstein said. “And that’s what Ricky Bucker is all about.”
Buckler’s record-setting game almost didn’t happen. He took a jarring hit in the first quarter and had to go to the sidelines.
“It looked like he was done,” Eckstein said. “He was out two or three plays, and he wanted to go back in but I wouldn’t let him back in until the trainer said it was OK.”
Buckler also finishes the regular season as the leading rusher in Northern Kentucky. He needed 96 yards to reach the 2,000 mark, and he enters the postseason with 2,266 ground yards.
Senior Richard Wills also completed 5 of 10 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers, who wrapped up a No. 2 seed in Class A last week.
Senior Dylan McGuire threw for 211 yards and rushed for 140 in the losing effort for Lloyd.LLOYD 7-7-7-7—28
at BELLEVUE 7-7-14-13—41
B-Buckler 1 run (Dill kick)
L-Danks 4 pass from McGuire (McGuire kick)
L-McGuire 6 run (McGuire kick)
B-Hegge 21 pass from Wills (Dill kick)
L-Gregory 24 pass from McGuire (McGuire kick)
B-Buckler 74 run (Dill kick)
B-Buckler 1 run (Dill kick)
B-Rankin 10 pass from Wills (Dill kick)
L-McGuire 5 run (McGuire kick)
B-Buckler 59 run (kick blocked)
RECORDS: Bellevue 7-3, Lloyd 4-6.
