By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The Bluffton football team could not contain the Knight run game and lost 41-21 to visiting Crestview in a Northwest Conference battle Friday night at Harmon Field.
The defeat ended a two-game Pirate win streak and dropped their record to 3-2 overall at the halfway point of the regular season. Bluffton also fell to 1-1 in the NWC.
The Knights improved to 3-2 and 2-0 in league play with their third consecutive victory.
Crestview never trailed after racing to a 20-0 lead on three early rushing touchdowns, including two by junior running back Brody Brecht of 11 and 36 yards, in the first stanza.
Bluffton got on the scoreboard when speedy Tyson Shutler rushed 68 yards to paydirt with 15 seconds left in the opening period. The extra point kick pulled the hsts within 20-7.
But Brecht answered by rushing for his third touchdown from five yards out midway through the second quarter to make it 27-7 at intermission.
Knight senior quarterback Kaden Short ran into the end zone from 33 yards out at the 7:35 mark in the third period to extend the lead to 34-7.
Brecht added his fourth TD on a 36-yard scamper with 11:41 remaining to make it 41-7.
Bluffton quarterback Nate Schaadt completed two TD passes in the final eight minutes. A 61-yard aerial to Shutler followed by a second Kyle Koontz point after kick cut the deficit to 41-14 with 7:59 remaining.
Schaadt then hooked up with Baylor Garmatter on a nine-yard scoring strike with 5:04 left to play. Koontz's third extra point boot reduced the final margin to 20.
Crestview out-gained Bluffton, 471-292. The Pirates threw for 167 yards but allowed 368 rush yards. The Knights amassed 22 first downs compared to 10 by the Pirates.
Schaadt completed eight of 18 passes for 167 yards and two TDs with one interception. Brecht rolled up 250 yards and four TDs rushing on 24 carries. Brecht also caught two passes for 31 yards.
Shutler led Bluffton with 67 yards rushing on three tries. He also caught five passes for 119 yards and a TD. Schaadt added 29 yards on 10 rushes. Garmatter caught three passes for 48 yards and a score.
Short passed just nine times, completing five for 103 yards with one interception. Short ruhed six times for 58 yards and a TD. Caylib Pruett added 45 yards on eight carries with one TD.
Garmatter led Bluffton with 4.5 tackles and four solos. The Knights possessed the ball for 25:44 of time compared to 21:58 by the Pirates.
1 2 3 4 F
Bluf 7 0 0 14 21
Cview 20 7 7 7 41
Homecoming Friday
Bluffton hosts struggling Paulding (1-4, 0-2 NWC) to celebrate Homecoming Friday in a week six Northwest Conference battle.
The Panthers (1-1 away) lost 28-7 to visiting Columbus Grove this past Friday. Paulding's lone win came at Antwerp in week three by a 47-12 count. They have been outscored 153-56 in their four losses.
The Panthers are 26th in the Div. V, Region 18 computer rankings. Bluffton (1-2 home) fell to 16th in the Div. VI, Region 23 rankings after the loss to Crestview, a blow to their playoff chances.
