CG claims NWC title with wild win

By Cort Reynolds

COLUMBUS GROVE__The visiting Bluffton High School football team lost a 48-38 seesaw battle to Columbus Grove in their rivalry battle to decide the Northwest Conference title on Friday, October 24 at Clymer Stadium.

The Pirates came back time and time again but were unable to overcome two kickoff returns for touchdowns, some missed two-point conversions and the potent Bulldog offense.

The Pirates dropped to 8-2 overall and finished 5-2 in NWC play with the tough defeat. Bluffton ended up third in the eight-team league standings. Lima Central Catholic  (9-1, 6-1 NWC) came in second place after a 21-13 win over fourth-place Crestview (6-4, 4-3 NWC) Friday night.

CG improved to 7-3 and went 7-0 in league action to claim the outright NWC title and extend their win streak to seven games. 

Pirate quarterback Tayte Giesige ran for four short touchdowns and passed for a score.

The Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and scored almost immediately on a 49-yard Landon Best pass just 1:57 into the contest to take a 7-0 lead.

Bluffton answered right back as junior signal-caller Tayte Giesige connected with Kain Wright on a 36-yard pass to start their drive. After a long Giesige run a few plays later, the Pirates scored when the QB found the end zone from a yard out. 

However, CG responded with two quick touchdowns and they never relinquished the lead despite several Pirate charges.

The Bulldogs recaptured the lead 14-7 on a 25-yard TD run. The next game-changing score came on a pick six touchdown return that gave Grove a 21-7 cushion.

The Pirates came right back with a scoring drive to slice the lead in half. 

A long run by Blayne Hill gave Bluffton first and goal inside the CG 10, and then Parker Lovell was stopped inches short on the last play of the first period.

On fourth and short to start the second stanza, Giesige scored on a one-yard plunge. Ethan Blount’s second PAT kick pulled the Pirates within 21-14.

But the pattern of CG answering a Pirate score with a TD of their own kept up.

Grove broke a 98-yard kickoff return when the boot went over the returner’s head and died at the two. CG senior Trevon Baxter broke some tackles against the over-pursuing defense and scampered down the right sideline all the way to the end zone to rebuild the lead to 28-14 with 11:38 left in the first half.

On the next Bluffton possession, Giesige escaped a heavy rush, scrambled and threw long to Lleyton Miller for a 49-yard gain as he was hit late to tack on 15 more yards to the CG six. 

Bluffton running back Lovell caught a five-yard screen to earn fourth and goal from the one. Giesige again lowered his head and scored from two yards out to bring the Pirates within 28-20 after the extra point was blocked with 7:46 left in the second period.

Baxter authored a long run to spark the next CG drive. On fourth and four, Baxter completed a 30-yard pass to tight end Brady Basinger, who lunged barely over the goal line for a score with 3:58 left in the half. 

Senior Evan Verhoff’s fifth PAT kick of the half stretched the Grove lead to 35-20.

A hook and lateral pass by Grove reached the Pirate 21 after a penalty with two seconds left in the half. But Best’s aerial came up incomplete as time expired.

The first Pirate drive of the second half traversed most of the field and was aided by three Bulldog penalties, including a pass interference in the end zone. On third and goal, a key Gavin Baxter tackle for loss brought up fourth down from the three.

A scrambling Giesige pass fell incomplete to turn it over on downs for a key stop at the CG three. Grove was stopped on a yard short third and nine to force a punt at the 12. After the kick, the Pirates had good field position at their own 47. 

The Pirates covered 53 yards to score as Giesige completed a seam route aerial to Hill for a 32-yard touchdown at the 39-second mark. The two-point pass was dropped to keep the deficit at nine, 35-26.

Trevon Baxter recaptured the momentum as he returned his second kickoff to paydirt with a 70-yard return. He stiff-armed a defender and rambled to the end zone to put CG back in control. Verhoff’s PAT kick made it 42-26 with 24 seconds left in the third period.

Pirate quarterback Giesige scored on his fourth short TD run, this time from two yards, to cut the lead to 42-32. But Hill was stopped short on a two-point conversion with 10:46 left to play.

Bluffton recovered the ensuing onsides kick to gain new life. On third and 10, a 10-yard pass was wrestled away from the Bulldog defender at the CG 41. A sack dropped Giesige for a six-yard loss. But a screen to Hill gained a first down.

A 10-yard Giesige pass reached the Grove six. Lovell’s four-yard TD run cut the deficit to 42-38 with just over five minutes left. The two-point run by Giesige was stopped short.

The Pirate defense needed a stop to have a chance to win. But Grove was not to be denied.

On third and six, Best completed a clutch pass to move the chains as the clock ticked down under three minutes. A third down run gained a first down, and moments later Best ran it in for a 10-yard TD and a 48-38 lead with 1:43 left.

Trevon Baxter intercepted a pass to end the final drive and clinch the chippy rivalry battle, as well as the league crown.

Bluffton has not beaten Grove in their last nine meetings. The last Pirate win over CG was a 28-27 nailbiter back on October 27, 2017.

1 2 3 4 F

Bluf 7 13 6 12 38

CG 21 14 7 6 48

Stats and notes

Bluffton netted 496 total yards on 75 plays for an average of 6.6 yards per play. The balanced Pirates threw for 226 yards and ran for 270 more yards.  

The Bulldogs compiled 266 net yards on just 31 plays for 8.6 yards per snap. CG ran for 149 yards and netted 117 yards aerially. Due in large part to the two kickoff return TDs and the pick six score, Grove ran 44 fewer plays.

The Pirates compiled 25 first downs compared to 11 times the Bulldogs  moved the chains.

Giesige completed 14 of 21 passes for 226 yards and one score with two interceptions. His longest completion went for 49 yards. He also rushed 24 times for 136 yards and four TDs. Giesige compiled 362 yards in total offense.

Lovell rushed for 73 yards and one TD on 21 carries. He also caught four passes for 19 yards.

Hill added 50 yards on two runs. Hill also snared three receptions for 62 yards.

Miller caught four aerials for 89 yards. Wright pulled down two passes for 51 yards. 

Best completed five of six passes for 117 yards and two TDs.

CG amassed 149 yards rushing on 21 attempts (7.1 avg.).

Hill made one solo stop and five assists. Shank and Lovell each had one solo tackle and four assists. Jackson Bowlus and Giesige totaled two solos and three assists apiece. Robby Taylor added six assists. 

Bluffton converted an excellent nine of 12 third down tries, while CG was successful on three of five attempts. The Pirates were 2-4 on fourth down, and the Bulldogs went 1-1 on fourth.

The Pirates committed two turnovers on a pair of picks. CG made no miscues.

CG was penalized five times for 17 yards. Bluffton also committed five penalties for 17 yards.

The Pirates finished the regular season 3-2 on the road and 5-0 at home. 

CG clinched its 18th league crown overall and 12th outright title with the win Friday. Delphos Jefferson has 16 titles, and Bluffton 14 (eight outright, six shared).

The Pirates have a league-best 350 all-time NWC wins, while CG has won 349 league games.