By Cort Reynolds
The visiting Bluffton football team struck early and often through the air to soundly defeat Defiance Ayersville 42-0 in their third and final non-league battle of the regular season Friday night.
The convincing road victory lifted the Pirate record to 3-0, while Ayersville fell to 2-1 with the loss.
Bluffton scored on three first-half touchdown aerials and was never threatened.
Garret Bogart tossed a 42-yard touchdown strike to Gavin Bogart to start the scoring in the first period. Kyle Basil’s extra point kick put the visitors on top, 7-0.
The Bogart duo again hooked up for a six-yard TD reception in the second period to extend the lead to 14-0.
Braeden Jordan then hauled in a 53-yard scoring aerial from Bogart to build a commanding 21-0 lead by intermission.
Bluffton tallied two more TDs in the third period to put the game out of reach.
Gavin Bogart intercepted a pass and returned it 18 yards to paydirt, and Basil’s fourth PAT kick stretched the advantage to 28-0.
Noah Bricker then found the end zone on a 32-yard scoring run to balloon the margin to 35-0 heading to the final stanza.
Griffin Stackhouse tacked on the last TD with a 19-yard run to paydirt in the fourth quarter. Basil’s sixth point after kick made the final score 42-0.
Landen Worcester rushed 15 times for 70 yards. Bricker netted 34 yards on two rushes with one TD. Stackhouse added 28 yards on three runs with one TD.
Garret Bogart completed seven of 10 passes for 153 yards and three TDs, all in the first half.
Both of Gavin Bogart’s receptions went for scores as he gained 48 yards on two catches. Jordan’s only catch resulted in the 53-yard TD.
Hayden Dearth grabbed two aerials for 31 yards.
Worcester made a team-high eight tackles. Carson Kruse added five solo stops among his six tackles. Jordan and Gavin Bogart added six stops apiece.
Basil booted six out of six PAT tries.
Bluffton netted 292 yards on 41 plays (7.1 per play). The Pirate defense limited Ayersville to 161 yards on 42 snaps (3.8).
The balanced Pirate attack totaled 139 yards rushing and 153 passing yards. DA rushed for 118 yards but was held to just 43 yards aerially.
The Pirates racked up 11 first downs, while Ayersville amassed nine first downs.
The Pirates converted five of eight third down tries while the Pilots were 0-7. Bluffton was successful on its one fourth down effort, while Ayersville was 1-4 on fourth.
Bluffton did not commit a single turnover, while DA lost one fumble and threw one interception.
The Pirates were penalized five times for 29 yards, while DA was flagged four times for 70 yards.
1 2 3 4 F
Blu 7 14 14 7 42
DA 0 0 0 0 0
Bluffton (2-0 home, 1-0 road) plays its first Northwest Conference game next Friday at home vs. Delphos Jefferson (0-3).
The Wildcats lost to local rival Delphos St. John’s 45-6 in their opener, then fell to Ayersville 42-26 at home in week two.
On this past Saturday night to conclude week three at Delphos, Jefferson lost 56-25 to visiting former NWC foe Paulding.
The dominating Pirates have outscored their opponents 112-28 in three games so far, an average of 37.3 points per game to 9.3 ppg. DJ has been outscored 143-56 in three games.
Bluffton is ranked second in the 27-team Div. VI, Region 22 computer ratings, behind only Ottawa Hills. Winless Jefferson is tied for 29th in the Div. VII, Region 26 rankings.
