By Bryan Kress
The banner read "Knock Out The Knights" and despite forcing 4 turnovers, Bluffton were the ones who ended up being knocked out.
Bluffton could not capitalize on any Crestview turnover, and gave up a total of 236 yards on the ground. That kind of play is a recipe for failure for any team that suits up.
Crestview started the scoring with a Matt Holden 1-yard run that capped a 93-yard drive. The drive started deep in Crestview territory when Bluffton was stopped on 4th down. That was the second drive in a row that failed to get any points off of a Crestview fumble.
Bluffton would answer back on their next possession with a 33-yard screen pass to runningback Keshaun Hughes. Quarterback Hunter Joseph scrambled back past the 50-yard line, avoiding two Crestview defenders, and flipped it to Hughes for the score.
Joseph finished the game completing 17 of 34 passes for 289 yards and the 1 touchdown. Those are solid numbers for a quarterback, but the biggest concern in that stat-line is the interceptions, 3 to be exact. A team will not win many games when the quarterback throws that many interceptions and when the offensive line allows the same amount of pressure it did in this game.
The lead would flip-flop again in the 3rd quarter when Bluffton would take the lead 13-12 on a Hughes 1-yard run after giving up the lead on the previous possession. Hughes would finish the day with only 38 yards on just 10 carries.
Trailing 20-13, Bluffton seemed to get the momentum on their side when Brandon Deeds intercepted a Crestview pass, but an interception by Joseph would kill that momentum. Deeds had a great game with 2 interceptions on defense and 6 catches for 107 yards. Bluffton would tie the score 20-20 with little over 4 minutes in the game on a 1-yard Joseph run.
Tied 20-20, Bluffton's defense had the opportunity to finally stop Crestview's offensive rushing attack and set up a comeback win. The defense failed to do so. Crestview ran the ball 10 times on a 10 play drive for 71 yards that ended on a 1-yard quarterback touchdown run.
The effectiveness of the Crestview running game not only scored the go ahead touchdown, but also chewed up 4 minutes off the clock and left Bluffton with only 20 seconds to score.
Already having a great game Deeds refused to let the game slip away, returning the kickoff to the Crestview 45-yard line. However his return effort would be in vein when 2 Joseph passes hit the ground and his 3rd, and final, pass landed in the hands of a Crestview defender.
Bluffton's defense gave up a total of 363 yards, but were led by RJ Stratton who had 15 total tackles, as well as 5 catches on offense for 56 yards, and Jeremy Basinger with 13 tackles.
Bluffton is now 3-1 and will attempt to win their 4th at Ada (3-1).
