The Bluffton Bucs midget football is back on track like the teams in the early 1990s. 

The Bucs entered into the Junior Buckeye League four years ago, playing against teams from NWCC, BVC, NWC and WBL conferences.   

This year’s season started out strong with both the 3rd and 4th grade JV team and the 5th and 6th grade Varsity team winning their opening games by shutout. 

As the season continued both teams improved, earning a perfect undefeated regular season, both teams going 6-0 and with JV outscoring their opponents 141-31 and Varsity outscoring their opponents 208-49. 

The Bucs rallied in the first round of playoffs winning by convincing victories. In round two, both teams faced LCC Thunderbirds. The Varsity Bucs fell short with a hard-fought 0-8 loss, while the JV Bucs earned victory 21-0 and continued to the Super Bowl where they torched Riverside Pirates leading 36-0 in the first half earning a Super Bowl victory. 

Zac Kohli told the Icon that the outstanding performance by both teams can be credited to each player showing up with a hard work ethic and buying into the program. 

He continued: “The coaching staff deserves special recognition with all the years of knowledge and experience among the group, with many having played after high school. 

“The group understood the commitment it would take to have success and implementing watching films with the Varsity Bucs to give them the next level edge.” 

Throughout the season the Bucs showcased their multi-dimensional strategies by both running and throwing the ball; with a huge emphasis on a tough defense and teaching the players how to read the opponents offenses to set them up for success. 

The direction of the Bucs is on the rise and growing numbers from 43 players in 2017 to 56 players in 2018 will give the team a strong base for future seasons. 

JV games:

Bluffton Bucs vs Elida Thunder 26-0
Bluffton Bucs vs LCC Thunderbirds 14-12
Bluffton Bucs vs Cridersville Rams 22-13
Bluffton Bucs vs Ada Bulldogs 31-0
Bluffton Bucs vs Allen East Wolves 26-6
Bluffton Bucs vs Grove White 22-0
Playoff
Bluffton Bucs vs Grove White 19-6
Bluffton Bucs vs LCC Thunderbirds 21-0
Super Bowl
Bluffton Bucs vs Riverside Pirates 36-0

Varsity games:
Bluffton Bucs vs Grove Red 30-0
Bluffton Bucs vs LCC Thunderbirds 32-21
Bluffton Bucs vs Cridersville Rams 38-0
Bluffton Bucs vs Ada Bulldogs 52-12
Bluffton Bucs vs Allen East Wolves 16-0
Bluffton Bucs vs Grove White 40-16
Playoff
Bluffton Bucs vs Sidney Lehman 30-0
Bluffton Bucs vs LCC Thunderbirds 0-8

3rd and 4th Graders: Declan Dunifon, Owen Shoemaker, Gavin Omlor, Brady Shilling, Parker Lovell, Isaiah Clinger, Ethan Fifer, Coby Dailey, Brandon Cross, Eli Lehman, Tayte Giesige, Dylan Painter, Ronald Kaufman, Jake Spencer, Landin Bible, Joe Spencer, Brayden Hauenstein, Mason Shank, Braydon McClure, Brendon Taylor, Reid Chatelain, Sawyer Bowling, Keith (KJ) Hohenbrink, Bentley (Buddy) Thebeau, Blayne Hill, and Aiden Weaver

5th and 6th Graders: Eli Jones, Marek Donaldson, Grif Stackhouse, Wyatt Dailey, Micah Rehm, Jett Blackburn, Noah Bricker, Brody Anderson, Landen Worcester, Reese Little, Charles Wright, Quinn Eachus, Carter Hohenbrink, Ethan Ansley, Terron Boblitt, Jackson Bowlus, Javen Crawfis, Evan Grothause, Nathaniel Rayle, Landen Storer, Elijah Nye, Brody Sommers, Hunter Betts, Xavier Diller, Braylon Goings, Blake Sommers, and Jackson Brauen