By Cort Reynolds
Seven Bluffton football players earned All-Northwest Conference notice in voting recently conducted by the league coaches.
Junior speedster Tyson Shutler was named first team all-league at defensive back.
Senior fullback Tucker Neff was named to the second team all-conference offense. He ran for over 1,200 yards and set a school single-game record with 313 yards rushing at Ada.
Senior lineman McCormick Ault was also voted second team all-league on offense.
Pirate senior lineman Landon Luginbihl was named honorable mention all-league on offense and defense.
Shutler was picked honorable mention offense at running back. Kicker Kyle Koontz also received honorable mention notice on offense.
Lineman Jackson Wilson was named honorable mention all-league on defense. Ault was voted HM All-NWC at linebacker.
Bluffton finished 4-6 overall and 2-5 (sixth) in the eight-team NWC.
Columbus Grove junior quarterback Blake Reynolds was voted NWC Offensive Player of the Year.
Senior linebacker Eli Yahl of tri-champion Spencerville repeated as NWC Defensive Player of the Year. He tied AE junior linebacker Blake Hershberger for league Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Second-year Allen East mentor Wes Schroeder was voted NWC Coach of the Year. He led the Mustangs to their first NWC title since 1995, and their first playoff berth since 2006 this fall.
AE finished 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the NWC to tie with Spencerville and Grove for the league crown. The Bearcats have won or shared the last three conference titles.
The Mustangs are the only NWC team to qualify for the post-season in 2019.
