Week 6 showdown at LCC on Sept. 27

By Cort Reynolds

SPENCERVILLE__The unbeaten Bluffton High School football team went on the road and dominated Northwest Conference foe Spencerville 42-7 on Friday, September 19.

The Pirates, ranked second in the latest Div. VI AP state poll, improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in NWC play with the lopsided win.  

The Bearcats fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the NWC after the defeat.

Bluffton junior quarterback Tayte Giesige threw for three touchdowns and scored on a long TD run to pace the victors.

Spencerville’s Grady Miller intercepted a pass to thwart the first Pirate possession at the Bluffton 35. But the Pirate defense rose up and forced a turnover on downs due to a fourth down stop.

On the ensuing drive, Lleyton Miller caught a pass and lateraled the ball for a gain to the Bearcat 37. Parker Lovell then scurried on a 30-yard run to the Bearcat seven. 

Two plays later, Blayne Hill pulled in a four-yard TD reception from Giesige to break the scoring ice.

The extra point kick by Ethan Blount made it 7-0 with 6:32 left in the first period.

Less than three minutes later, the Bearcats fumbled and Hill scooped up the loose pigskin, then scampered 47 yards to paydirt. The second extra point doubled the lead to 14-0 with 3:34 still to go in the opening stanza.

After a stop, the Pirates ground out a long drive ignited by a spectacular long catch by Hill of a Giesige aerial.

Lovell capped the march with a one-yard TD plunge. With 10:29 left in the first half, Blount’s third PAT extended the lead to 21-0.

Spencerville punted on fourth and two and the Pirates took over at their 47. On the first play, Giesige and Ethan Sprunger connected on a 53-yard TD reception.

The Blount PAT boot stretched the margin to 28-0 with 8:20 still left in the first half.

A big Hunter Betts sack forced a fourth and 17 Smith punt, and the Pirates took over at the Bearcat 45.

After a Bluffton penalty moved them back 10 yards, Giesige ran 55 yards to paydirt to provide a 35-0 cushion with 5:21 left in the half. 

Spencerville managed to cross midfield on its next drive. A Jackson Bowlus tackle for loss temporarily stalled their best possession. On fourth and three, the hosts barely earned a first down on a three-yard run to the Pirate 42.

After a Pirate penalty, the drive penetrated the Bluffton 10. On third and seven with 23 seconds left in the half, an incompletion and 15-yard Bearcat penalty moved the ball back to the 25.

On fourth and goal from the 25, Smith was brought down after a two=yard gain with 10 ticks left to turn it over on downs. 

The 30-point margin running clock was enacted in the second half. The Bearcats took the kickoff and drove to the Pirate 30. A false start flag brought up third and six, but an eight-yard run moved the chains. 

On fourth and five a Bearcat pitchout run was stuffed after a gain of three to turn it over on downs again at the 22. The Pirates punted it back out of bounds just short of midfield.

Spencerville threatened but a long fourth down pass was broken up by Hill as he quickly closed in on the open receiver at the last second.

Robby Taylor caught a Giesige pass and scampered 64 yards to the Bearcat nine. On fourth and goal at the five, Giesige scrambled around and found Keatyn Shaffer for a five-yard TD pass.

Andy Brodman’s PAT kick made it 42-0 with 3:47 remaining.

After a long injury delay. Bearcat Austin Goecke rambled 58 yards to paydirt with 1:35 lead to score the lone Spencerville touchdown and spoil what would have been the first Pirate shutout of 2025.

1 2 3 4 F

Blu 14 21 0 7 42

Svl 0 0 0 7 7

Stats and notes

Bluffton racked up 338 total yards in just 30 plays, an average of 11.3 per play. They ran for 110 yards and threw for 228.

Spencerville compiled just 161 net yards on 60 plays, for 2.7 yards per snap. The Bearcats mustered just 26 yards aerially.

The Pirates amassed nine first downs compared to 11 by the Bearcats.

Giesige completed 10 of 13 passes for 228 yards and three TDs with one pick. He also rushed one time for a 55-yard score.

Hill caught three passes for 59 yards and one TD. Sprunger hauled in two aerials for 67 yards and a score. Taylor had a 64-yard reception.

Miller added a 21-yard grab.

Back from injury, Lovell netted 55 yards rushing on seven carries with one TD.

Betts recorded a sack. Jackson Bowlus and Mason Shank were each in on three solo stops and 14 assists. Bowlus added a tackle for loss. Giesige made 10 assisted tackles and one solo.

The Pirates committed two turnovers on one pick and a fumble at the very end. Spencerville lost a fumble. 

The Bearcats incurred seven flags for 62 yards. Bluffton had four penalties for 26 yards.

Showdown at LCC in week 6

The Pirates visit fellow unbeaten rival Lima Central Catholic (5-0, 2-0 NWC) in a crucial collision that will likely go a long way toward deciding the league champion on Saturday night, Sept. 27 at Spartan Stadium.

The Thunderbirds were ranked second in the state in the last Div. VII state poll. They whipped winless Fort Loramie Friday, 45-26. 

The T-Birds have outscored their opposition 145-58 this season. Bluffton has outscored its foes 226-78 through five games (45.2 ppg to 15.6 ppg).

Bluffton is third in the Div. VI, Region 22 computer rankings while LCC is first in the Div. VII, Region 26 rankings. 

The Pirates, LCC, Crestview (4-1) and defending champion Grove (2-3) are in a four-way tie atop the NWC at 2-0.