By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton football team lost to Columbus Grove 41-7 in the season and Northwest Conference opener Friday night at Harmon Field.
The Pirates fell to 0-1 overall (0-1 NWC East) with the defeat. The Bulldogs, defending tri-champions of the NWC, are 1-0 in each department.
CG senior quarterback Blake Reynolds hit junior receiver Jacksen Schroeder with a short pass, and he outran the Pirate defense for a 68-yard catch and carry TD to make it 7-0 at the 6:57 mark of the first quarter.
Grove junior back Colin Metzger then scored on a two-yard run just 2:33 later.
Schroeder followed that with another short TD run from three yards out with 61 seconds left in the opening stanza. Race Verhoff's third point after kick extended the lead to 21-0 after one period.
Schroeder scored his third TD on a two-yard run 10:07 before halftime to extend the margin to 28-0.
Verhoff nailed a 25-yard field goal with 5:51 remaining in the first half to make it 31-0.
Bluffton got on the board for its only score with 50 seconds to go in the half. Quarterback Nate Schaadt connected with Tyson Shutler on a 19-yard TD reception.
The extra point kick by Schaadt sliced the deficit to 31-7 at intermission.
Schroeder opened the second half scoring with his fourth TD. He found paydirt on a six-yard scoring jaunt with 5:40 to go in the third period. Verhoff nailed his fifth PAT in as many tries to advance the lead to 38-7.
Verhoff kicked his second field goal from 24 yards out with three minutes left to close the scoring.
1 2 3 4 F
Blf 0 7 0 0 7
CG 21 10 7 3 41
Notes and stats
Bluffton netted 147 yards in total offense on 46 plays (3.2 average). CG rolled up 369 yards on 45 plays for an average gain of 8.2 yards per play.
The Bulldogs racked up 18 first downs and limited the Pirates to nine.
Bluffton rushed for 84 net yards on 30 carries (2.8 per run). The Bulldogs racked up 184 yards on 30 rushes (6.2 avg.).
Reynolds threw for one touchdown and 178 yards on seven of 14 throwing accuracy.
Pirate quarterback Schaadt completed nine of 14 passes for 49 yards and one TD. He was sacked three times. Garrett Bogart added one completion in two tries for 14 yards.
Schaadt led the Pirate ground game with 71 yards on 18 carries. Shutler added 17 yards on two runs.
Shutler hauled in six aerials for 47 yards and one score. Tyler cupples added one grab for 14 yards. Landon Shutler made two catches for two yards.
Metzger led CG with 109 yards rushing and one TD on 11 carries. Schroeder netted 32 yards and three TDs on just six rushes. Jaden Daniels added 20 yards on eight runs.
Schroeder also snared three receptions for 108 yards and a TD. Gabe Clement made a pair of catches for 33 yards, and added a 47-yard kickoff return.
Preston Culver led the Pirate defense with seven tackles. Beau Stever contributed six stops, while the Shutler brothers added 3.5 tackles apiece. Culver and Landon Shutler combined on one tackle for loss.
Neither team committed a turnover or even fumbled. The Pirates possessed the ball for 22:38, while the visitors held it for 24:16.
The Pirates converted three of 13 third down tries, and Bluffton made good on one of one efforts on fourth down. CG was three for six on third down, and did not go for it on a single fourth down.
Verhoff only punted once for 39 yards. He made two of three field goal tries and five PATs for 11 points. Bluffton's Malachi Pahl punted eight times for a 29.8 average.
The Pirates lost 35 yards on four penalties. The Bulldogs were penalized three times for 30 yards.
Bluffton visits local foe Allen East in week two of the NWC East. The Mustangs led 41-0 at the half against rival Ada and went on to win 41-14 in their opener at Harrod.
Paulding outscored Delphos Jefferson 50-48 in overtime, and Spencerville defeated Crestview 35-14 in the two NWC West games.
