By Cort Reynolds
PAULDING - Visiting Bluffton scored in the final minute to squeak past Paulding 27-24 in the final game of a shortened, unprecedented Northwest Conference season Friday night.
Speedy senior Tyson Shutler ripped off a 48-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left in the game to bring the Pirates back from a 24-19 deficit to a 25-24 lead.
Pirate quarterback Nate Schaadt ran in the two-point conversion to provide the final margin as the Pirates held on for the win.
Shutler scored all four Bluffton touchdowns and rushed for 241 yards to pace the Pirate offense.
The Pirates improved to 3-2 overall (3-2 NWC) with the win, while the Panthers fell to 1-5 after the defeat in their final NWC season.
Bluffton scored first on a 58-yard TD run with just 34 seconds to go in the first period. Ethan Bogart booted the extra point to make it 7-0.
At the 9:53 mark of the second stanza, Shutler ran for a 10-yard TD. The extra point missed to keep the margin at 13-0.
Bluffton extended the lead to 19-0 on another Shutler scoring jaunt, this one from 20 yards out. The point after kick missed and the Pirates led 19-0.
Paulding finally got on the scoreboard with a quick response after a 75-yard kickoff return set up a 25-yard scoring pass. The two-point pass conversion cut the deficit to 19-8 with 2:57 left.
Then with just 30 seconds remaining in the first half, Paulding struck again on 12-yard TD pass. Another two-point pass was successful to pull the Panthers within 19-16 at intermission.
After a scoreless third period, Paulding took its first lead. A four-yard TD pass on the first play of the fourth quarter put the hosts on top, 22-16. The two-point run put the Panthers on top, 24-19.
But then the clutch Shutler scored his fourth TD with 25 seconds left to give the Pirates the victory.
1 2 3 4 F
Blu 7 12 0 8 27
Pau 0 16 0 8 24
Notes and stats
Bluffton compiled 328 yards on 48 plays for a 6.8 yard average per play. The Pirates amassed 15 first downs compared to 13 by Paulding.
The Panthers ran 56 plays and netted 232 yards in total offense for an average of 4.1 yards per play.
The Pirates rushed 36 times for 280 yards (7.8 avg.), while the Panthers netted 109 yards on 40 carries (2.7 avg.).
Schaadt completed eight of 12 aerials for 48 yards and no scores with no interceptions. Schaadt also rushed 12 times for 38 yards.
Shutler ran 22 times for 241 yards and four TDs. He also caught five passes for 31 yards. Landon Shutler snared two passes for 10 yards.
The Panthers completed 10 of 16 passes for 123 yards.
Bluffton committed two turnovers on a pair of fumbles, while Paulding made one miscue on an interception by Landyn Fleharty. Bluffton was penalized six times for 75 yards, and the Panthers were flagged seven times for 55 yards.
The Pirates had the ball for 18:51, while the hosts possessed it for 28:09. The Panthers were 2-12 on third down conversions, and went 2-7 on fourth down. Bluffton was five for nine on third down, and 1-3 on fourth down tries.
Elsewhere in the inaugural NWC tournament, Columbus Grove (6-0) edged past Allen East 27-24 in the league championship battle to sweep the Mustangs twice this season in close games.
Spencerville (4-2) lost to Crestview 27-16 in the NWC tourney third-place game.
Bluffton plays at Riverdale (4-2) Saturday, October 10 in the first round of the Div. VI, region 22 playoffs. The Falcons whipped Cory-Rawson 47-8 this Friday.
