By Takayla Gadberry

GAMBIER, Ohio–The Bluffton University football team opened their 2022 campaign with an explosive second half but came up just short, 33-26, at Kenyon College on a hot Saturday, Sept. 3. The Beavers fell to 0-1 on the season while the Owls improved to 1-0. 

Kenyon found the end zone midway through the first quarter, but Maalik Tucker (Fostoria) answered back with a 50-yard run to paydirt and the PAT from Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) to tie the score 7-7. Kenyon took the lead (13-7) to finish out the first quarter. 

A tough start to the second quarter saw the Owls take a commanding 26-7 lead over the Beavers. A team safety added two points to the Bluffton scoreboard (26-9) before Blake Rine (Heath/Granville) connected with DeSean Bonte (Canal Winchester/Harvest Prep) from 39 yards out for another Bluffton touchdown (26-16) to end the half.

Bluffton was the only team to put up points in the third quarter as Baumgartner nailed a 37-yard field goal to pull the Beavers within seven (26-19). After a quiet start to the final quarter, Kenyon added to its cushion by putting seven up on the board (33-19). With just three minutes left, the Beavers took seven plays to get Tucker to paydirt on a three-yard scamper for the final score of the game. But it left Bluffton one touchdown short of the victory (33-26).

Rine went 20-of-33 for 198 yards and one touchdown. Tucker punished the Lords, running the ball 19 times for 144 yards and two scores. Andre Price Jr. (Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) pulled down four tosses for 60 yards while Kale Lee (Spencerville) hauled in four of his own for 38 yards. 

Tyler Davis (Rittman) powered the defense with 11 tackles, a sack, two tackles for a total loss of six yards, and one break up. Karl Foster (Detroit, MI/Denby) tallied a whopping 13 total tackles while Dishon McGee Jr. (Detroit, MI/Detroit Leadership Academy) added seven stops and one solo sack.  

The Owls finished with 419 yards of total offense, while Bluffton also piled up over 400 yards (416). The Beavers tallied three sacks for 22 yards while Kenyon came up with one interception. The home team moved the chains 26 times, compared to 19 first downs for the Beavers.

Bluffton wil be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 10, when they head north to Albion for a non-conference matchup against the Britons. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.

For more Bluffton University sports news, visit https://blufftonbeavers.com/landing/index