By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School football team blasted winless Delphos Jefferson 63-0 in the Northwest Conference opener at Harmon Field Friday night, September 8, to stay undefeated.

The lopsided victory lifted the Pirate record to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in NWC action, while Delphos Jefferson fell to 0-4 and 0-1 in league play with the loss.

Landen Worcester started the scoring spree with a two-yard touchdown run. Kyle Basil booted the first of nine straight extra point kicks to make it 7-0.

Hayden Dearth then hauled in a 54-yard scoring aerial from Garret Bogart to double the lead to 14-0.

Gavin Bogart found paydirt on a five-yard TD run to extend the advantage to 21-0.

Worcester found the end zone from 15 yards out to put the Pirates on top, 28-0.

Carson Weaver intercepted a pass at the 20 which was deflected off a Wildcat receiver, and he returned it to the DJ two midway through the second stanza. 

Noah Bricker hopped into the end zone from a yard out to advance the lead to 35-0 with 5:39 left in the half after the fifth Basil extra point.

A Gavin Bogart TD run from 15 yards out was negated by a penalty near the goal line, bringing up a rare first and one play at the 11. Bricker then found paydirt on an eight-yard run with 1:33 left in the half. 

The Basil PAT kick stretched the margin to 42-0 at intermission.

Gavin Bogart scored on a 14-yard run in the third period to balloon the margin to 49-0.

Parker Lovell hit paydirt on a three-yard TD run to increase the lead to 56-0.

Tayte Giesige capped the scoring with a 19-yard TD run in the final period.

Notes and stats

Bluffton racked up 429 yards of total offense on 44 plays (9.8 yards per play).

The Pirate defense limited DJ to just 45 yards on 37 snaps (1.2 avg.).

Bluffton rolled up 331 yards rushing and passed for 98 more. Jefferson had zero aerial yards on 0-7 passing, and the Wildcats averaged just 1.5 yards per carry on 30 carries.

Landen Worcester rushed 10 times for 112 yards and two TDs. 

Gavin Bogart carried the ball seven times for 70 yards and two scores. Griffin Stackhouse picked up 53 yards on four runs. 

Giesige netted 46 yards on three runs with one TD. He also completed three of four aerials for 44 yards.

Lovell gained 28 yards on three carries. Bricker added two TD runs.

Garret Bogart completed one of three passes for 54 yards and a TD. 

Dearth grabbed two receptions for 67 yards and one TD. Braeden Jordan made one reception for 25 yards.

The Pirates converted all three of their third down attempts. DJ was successful on just one of 11 third down tries.

Each team committed one turnover. Bluffton was called for three penalties totaling 15 yards. DJ was not assessed a single penalty.

Carson Kruse was credited with six stops. Brody Sommers had three tackles for loss, one sack and five tackles.

Gavin Bogart contributed a sack and a tackle for loss among his five stops. Weaver recorded the game’s only interception.

Bluffton ascended to first place in the 27-team Div. VI, Region 22 computer ratings after the convincing win.  

1 2 3 4 F

Blu 28 14 14 7 63

DJ 0 0 0 0 0

Bluffton (3-0 home, 1-0 road) plays at Northwest Conference foe Spencerville next Friday.  

The Bearcats (2-2, 0-1 NWC) lost their league opener at Columbus Grove Friday, 40-0.

The dominating Pirates have outscored their opponents 175-28 in four games so far, an average of 43.8 points per game to 7.0 ppg.