By Cort Reynolds
SHERWOOD - Visiting Bluffton lost decisively to unbeaten third seed Sherwood Fairview 67-6 in the second round of the Div. VI, region 22 playoffs Saturday night.
The defeat snapped a four-game Pirate win streak, while Fairview improved to 7-0 with the win. Bluffton fell to 4-3 with the loss.
Fairview began the scoring with a safety 3:04 into the game and never was threatened.
Running back Luke Timbrook scored touchdowns on consecutive one-yard plunges in the first period.
Accurate Apache quarterback Doug Rakes then completed TD passes of 11 yards and 36 yards to Russ Zeedyk and Cade Ripke, respectively.
Pirate signal-caller Nate Schaadt then threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and a 34-0 Fairview cushion midway through the second stanza.
Timbrook then scored on a 65-yard scamper 1:17 before halftime to advance the lead to 41-0.
Rakes and Zeedyk teamed up for a 61-yard TD strike on the first play from scrimmage of the second half for a 48-0 bulge.
Rakes found Zeedyk on a two-yard TD aerial for a 55-0 lead with 7:40 left in the third quarter.
Keaton Singer then found paydirt on a four-yard run 20 seconds before the end of the third stanza. The extra point missed to keep the margin at 61-0.
Pirate senior speedster Tyson Shutler returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the end zone for the lone Bluffton score with 11 ticks to go in the third period.
D'Andre Hastings concluded the scoring on a six-yard TD run with 6:32 remaining.
Fairview advances to the region 22 quarterfinals Oct. 24 against Northwood.
1 2 3 4 F
Blu 0 0 6 0 6
Fair 14 27 20 6 67
Notes and stats
Bluffton mustered just 54 yards on 45 plays for a 1.2 yard average per play. The Pirates amassed a mere three first downs against the stingy Fairview defense.
The hosts ran 45 plays and netted 455 yards in total offense for an average of 10.1 yards per play. The Apaches racked up 23 first downs.
The Pirates rushed 34 times for 38 yards (1.1 avg.), while the Apaches had 21 carries for 160 yards (7.6 avg.).
Schaadt completed five of 11 aerials for 16 yards and no scores with one interception. Schaadt also rushed 16 times for seven yards.
Shutler ran 10 times for 14 yards. Jackson Wilson netted nine yards on two runs.
Shutler compiled 108 yards on five kickoff returns. Braeden Jordan added 42 yard son five kickoff returns.
Apache QB Rakes completed 17 of 18 passes for 259 yards and four TDs with no interceptions. Overall, Fairview threw for 295 yards.
Timbrook rushed six times for 65 yards and three TDs. Singer carried five times for 39 yards and one score.
Ripke snared four passes for 100 yards and a TD. Zeedyk snared five aerials for 87 yards and three scores. Kaden Blair added two catches for 20 yards.
Bluffton committed two turnovers, while Fairview made one miscue on a fumble. The Pirates were penalized twice for 10 yards, while the Apaches were flagged eight times for 55 yards.
Bluffton had the ball for 23:28, while the Apaches possessed it for 22:36. Fairview converted 4-6 on third down, and went 1-1 on fourth down. The Pirates were 1-13 on third down, and 1-4 on fourth down tries.
Bluffton was slated to host Leipsic (5-3) in a non-league regular season tilt October 23. But the Vikings beat Antwerp 41-13 in the second round of the playoffs to advance to their regional quarterfinals vs. Arlington.
The Pirates have a bye next weekend, and then will play at local rival Cory-Rawson (0-8) Friday, Oct. 30 to conclude an odd and unprecedented season.
