By Cort Reynolds
RAWSON - Visiting Bluffton raced to a 44-point halftime lead and soundly defeated local non-league rival Cory-Rawson 50-14 Friday night to end the unpredictable 2020 season on a high note.
The decisive victory improved the final Bluffton record to 5-3, while C-R remained winless with the defeat.
Pirate senior speedster Tyson Shutler scored three touchdowns, led all players in rushing yardage and picked off two passes to pace the winners.
Bluffton signal-caller Nate Schaadt also accounted for three TDs and 275 yards in total offense to spearhead the victorious offense.
The Pirates tallied 22 points in each of the first two periods to build an insurmountable lead against the overmatched Hornets.
Schaadt started the onslaught with a one-yard scoring plunge just 82 seconds into the fray. Shutler's two-point conversion run made it 8-0.
Schaadt then completed a 55-yard TD pass to Landon Shutler with 7:03 left in the opening stanza. Tyson Shutler converted the two-pont conversion run to advance the margin to 16-0.
With 2:06 remaining in the first quarter, Tyson Shutler found paydirt on a two-yard run. Schaadt's two-point pass attempt was incomplete to keep the lead at 22-0.
Pirate Jackson Wilson tallied on a three-yard TD run 10:53 before intermission. Another two-point pass failed, yet Bluffton still led 28-0.
Schaadt then hooked up for a second scoring strike with Landon Shutler, this time from 42 yards out, with 3:09 left in the half.
Schaadt's two-point pass to Gavin Bogart extended the cushion to 36-0.
Tyson Shutler then intercepted C-R quarterback Nick Thompson's pass and returned it to the end zone just nine seconds before intermission for yet another score.
Tyson Shutler tallied the ensuing two-point run to build the lead to 44-0 at halftime.
Thompson finally got the Hornets on the board with a 43-yard TD run with 4:27 left in the third period. The point after kick by Lance Kisseberth cut the deficit to 44-7.
Tyson Shutler later outran the Cory defense on a 45-yard jaunt to paydirt with 1:39 left in the third stanza. The two-point pass try failed and Bluffton led 50-7 heading to the final quarter of the season.
Hornet back Cale Perkins scored on a four-yard TD run with 4:55 remaining to provide the final TD. Kisseberth converted the PAT boot.
1 2 3 4 F
Blu 22 22 6 0 50
C-R 0 0 7 7 14
Notes and stats
Bluffton rolled up 466 yards on just 41 plays for an 11.4 yard average per play. The Pirates amassed 17 first downs.
The Hornets ran 38 plays and netted just 125 yards in total offense for an average of 3.3 yards per play. C-R compiled seven first downs.
The Pirates rushed 33 times for 317 yards (9.6 avg.), while the Hornets carried the pigskin 23 times for 100 yards (4.3 avg.).
Bluffton completed seven of eight aerials for 149 yards and two scores.
Schaadt efficiently completed all six of his aerial attempts for 147 yards and two TDs with no interceptions. Schaadt also rushed eight times for 128 yards and one score.
Shutler ran 15 times for a game-high 157 yards and two TDs. Jackson Wilson added 13 yards and one TD on three rush attempts.
Garrett Bogart netted 15 yards on four carries, and he completed one of two passes in relief of Schaadt.
Landon Shutler caught two passes for 97 yards and a pair of TDs. Tyler Shutler hauled in three passes for 33 yards, and contributed two interceptions. Wilson added one reception for 17 yards.
Ethan Bogart added the other Pirate pickoff.
Hornet QB Thompson completed just four of 15 passes for 25 yards with three interceptions. He added 54 yards rushing and one TD on 10 rush attempts.
Perkins netted 38 yards on 12 rushes with one score. Jared Thompson pulled in three receptions for 16 yards.
Bluffton committed no turnovers, while Cory made four miscues on three picks and a lost fumble. The Pirates were penalized 12 times for 105 yards, while C-R was flagged six times for 45 yards.
Bluffton had the ball for 23:10, while the Hornets possessed it for 22:23. C-R converted 1-2 on third down, and went 1-8 on fourth down. The Pirates were 2-6 on third down, and 0-4 on fourth down tries.
Bluffton won five of its last six games after two losses to NWC champion Columbus Grove and league runner-up Allen East to start the season.
