Visiting Bluffton lost 35-0 to backyard county rival Allen East in a Northwest Conference clash Friday night, October 8, at Bill Goodwin Field in Harrod.
Bluffton fell to 4-4 and 1-4 in league play after suffering its third loss in a row.
AE improved to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the NWC with the decisive victory, their third in a row.
Bluffton played without injured senior quarterback Nate Schaadt. Marek Donaldson took over the QB duties for the Pirates.
Kade Wireman intercepted a Donaldson pass intended for Braeden Jordan and returned it to paydirt with 8:24 left in the first period.
Aiden Robey's extra point kick made it 7-0, Mustangs.
AE's Jacob Hershberger extended the lead on a five-yard TD run with 11:17 left in the first half. Robey's second PAT boot advanced the lead to 14-0.
Hershberger then scampered in from 30 yards out for another TD with 6:53 to go in the first half. Robey's extra point made it 21-0 heading to intermission.
Hershberger then connected with Carter Young on a 40-yard TD pass just 88 seconds into the second half.
Then with 2:38 to go in the third stanza, Hershberger hurled a 20-yard TD strike to Garrett Newland.
Robey's fifth PAT kick extended the margin to 35-0.
Neither team scored in the fourth period with the running clock.
1 2 3 4 F
AE 0 0 0 0 0
Bluf 7 14 14 0 35
Notes and stats
AE out-gained Bluffton 275-177 yards in total offense. The Mustangs averaged 6.1 yards per play on 45 snaps. The Pirates averaged 3.0 yards on 60 plays.
AE ran the ball 26 times for 129 yards (5.0 average). The Pirates netted 146 yards rushing on 43 carries for an average gain of 3.4.
AE compiled 13 first downs to a dozen by the Pirates.
Donaldson completed five of 17 passes for 31 yards and two interceptions. He rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries.
Landon Shutler led the Pirates with 65 yards on 21 carries. Beau Stever added 14 yards on three runs.
Jackson Wilson caught one pass for 25 yards, and Gavin Bogart added one reception for eight yards.
Hershberger completed an efficient 12 of 19 aerials for 146 yards and two TDs with one interception. He also ran 10 times for 77 yards and two scores.
Jack Hoel added 36 yards on seven runs.
Young pulled in three receptions for 76 yards and a TD. Newland caught five passes for 51 yards and a score. Chase Miller added two catches for 15 yards.
The Pirates committed two turnovers and the MUstangs were guilty of one miscue. AE lost 80 yards on eight penalties, and Bluffton was flagged six times for 50 yards.
AE converted three of 10 third down tries and was 1-2 on fourth down. Bluffton succeeded on seven of 17 third down attempts, and did not convert its lone fourth down try.
The Pirates won the time of possession battle, 29:37 to 18:21 to minutes. Garret Bogart had the Pirate interception.
Bluffton hosts Delphos Jefferson in week nine. DJ (3-5, 1-4 NWC) lost at Leipsic Friday
The Pirates close the regular season at league-leading Columbus Grove (8-0, 5-0 NWC) Friday, Oct. 22. CG throttled Ada 58-7 Friday.
The Pirates are now 2-2 at home and 2-2 on the road.
