By Cort Reynolds
Bluffton raced to a big early lead and made it stand up to defeat local rival Ada 31-7 in a Northwest Conference football bout on a pleasant Friday night at Harmon Field.
The Pirates improved to 3-2 and 2-0 in the league with their second straight win.
Ada dropped to 1-4 and 0-2 in the NWC with the defeat.
Bluffton jumped to a 21-0 lead but had to hold off an Ada second period rally. After the visitors scored to cut the deficit to 21-7, the Bulldogs drove deep into Pirate territory late in the second quarter.
But on a critical play as time expired, the Bluffton defense stuffed a run up the middle just shy of the Pirate goal line to keep the hosts ahead by 14.
The half-ending play turned the momentum back in Bluffton's direction, and took some wind out of the Ada sails.
The Pirates outscored Ada 10-0 in the second half to provide the final margin.
Ada put together a solid drive on the game's first possession. But on fourth and three inside the Pirate 40, the march was stopped short on a run to turn it over on downs.
Bluffton then rumbled 65 yards to paydirt in five plays to take the lead. Griffin Stackhouse sped in to score on a 44-yard run with 5:49 left in the first period. Kyle Basil's extra point kick gave them a 7-0 lead.
On the next Ada drive, Levi Green tossed a short last-ditch pass as he neared the left sideline, and it was intercepted by Pirate Carson Kruse at the Bulldog 28.
On the very next play, Bluffton struck quickly with a 28-yard touchdown aerial by Garret Bogart. At the 4:07 mark, the hosts led 14-0.
The next three possessions of the game went three and out. The Pirates then took over on their own 40 and drove in to score on six plays.
Speedy Braeden Jordan snared a Bogart slant pass and outran the Ada defense 38 yards to the end zone with 10:29 left in the half.
Basil's third PAT kick stretched the lead to 21-0.
On the ensuing possession, Ada put together its best drive as they marched 80 yards to paydirt. A Green screen to Levi Sousley gained six yards. On third down, he then connected with Max Puerto for a 24-yard gain.
The shifty Green then scampered 16 yards, followed by a 14-yard run from punishing Jalee Bolden. On third and goal, Bolden rambled in off tackle from two yards out to score with 4:37 left in the half.
The drive took 5:30, and Wyatt Green capped it with the extra point that cut the deficit to 21-7.
Bluffton drove deep into Ada territory on its next possession. But a fumbled pitchout was recovered by Bulldog Spencer Wall at the Ada 21 to thwart the march.
Green and Bolden then took turns carrying the ball as Ada drove methodically downfield, chewing up clock. Green authored a spinning 11-yard run on third and 15. Bolden then moved the chains with a 13-yard run.
On third and 10, Bolden ripped off another clutch 10-yard rumble. He then rushed seven yards to the Pirate four-yard line with 14.1 seconds left in the half.
A scrambling Green pass to the end zone fell incomplete. With no timeouts left, Green faked a handoff to Bolden and tried to sneak his way through the middle.
But in one of the key plays of the night, he was stopped at the one by the interior of the Pirate line as time ran out.
Ada tried an on-sides kickoff to start the second half, but Bluffton was ready and recovered at the 49. After a 28-yard pass to Jordan, the Ada defense stiffened and forced a Pirate punt.
But the Bluffton defense held and forced a short punt, with the Pirates taking over at the Bulldog 31. Garret Bogart kept the ball and scampered around right end 28 yards to the Ada three.
A holding penalty cost Bluffton 11 yards. But on third down, the elusive Stackhouse weaved his way around the right side untouched behind his blocking to the end zone for a 14-yard TD run.
Basil's fourth extra point rebuilt the Pirate lead to 28-7 with 7:39 left in the third stanza.
Ada took possession at its own 20, and Green ripped off runs of eight and 12 yards. Bolden converted third and 11 with a 13-yard ramble.
But the drive eventually stalled. On fourth and five at the Pirate 27, a high-arching pass on the right sideline was broken up.
Bluffton threatened on its next drive when Landon Shutler sped 30 yards on a screen pass. But the Ada defense held.
The Pirates tacked on three more points via a 39-yard Basil field goal with just 42 seconds remaining to provide the final margin of 24.
1 2 3 4 F
Ada 0 7 0 0 7
Bluf 14 7 7 3 31
Notes and stats
Bluffton netted 365 yards on just 43 plays (8.5 avg.).
Ada netted 299 yards in total offense on 70 plays for an average of 4.3 yards per snap.
The Pirates toted the pigskin 33 times for 254 yards (7.7 avg.).
The Bulldogs rushed the ball 55 times for 257 yards (4.7 average).
Garret Bogart completed four of 10 passes for 115 yards and two TDs. He also ran 10 times for 56 yards.
Landen Worcester rushed 16 times for 113 yards to lead a balanced Bluffton ground game. Stackhouse netted 58 yards on just three carries. Shutler added 27 yards onthree runs.
Jordan caught three passes for 85 yards, while Shutler had one reception for 30 yards.
Green completed four of 14 aerials for 42 yards with one interception. He also rushed 27 times for 125 yards. Casen Jones completed one pass for nine yards.
Bolden netted 123 yards on 25 carries and scored the lone Ada TD. Levi Sousley made three receptions for 15 yards.
Ada compiled 19 first downs, 18 of which came on the ground. One came through the air.
The Pirates also amassed 19 first downs, with 14 on the ground and four through the air, plus one via penalty.
Both teams committed just one turnover. The Bulldogs were penalized three times for 40 yards, and the Pirates were flagged four times for 35 yards in the chippy contest.
Ada dominated in time of possession, 33:57 to 14:03.
Bluffton visits Crestview (3-2, 0-2 NWC) in week six. The Knights lost 21-7 at Delphos Jefferson Friday.
Watch the game HERE.
