By Cort Reynolds

DELPHOS__The unbeaten Bluffton High School football team went on the road and whipped Delphos Jefferson 49-7 in a Northwest Conference battle on Friday night, Sept. 18.

All points were scored in the first period. 

Pirate senior quarterback Tayte Giesige threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more scores to pace the offensive onslaught. He accounted for 414 yards of total offense.

The Pirates improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in NWC play with the lopsided road win. DJ fell to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the NWC after the home defeat, their second in a row.

Ethan Sprunger started the scoring parade by hauling in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Giesige. Andy Brodman’s first of six extra point kicks put the Pirates ahead, 7-0.

Parker Lovell ran for a 14-yard TD to double the margin to 14-0. Blayne Hill then pulled in a 17-yard scoring strike from Giesige to put the Pirates on top, 21-0.

Lovell found paydirt again on a 31-yard scamper to provide a 28-0 bulge.

Giesige hit the end zone on a 15-yard run to balloon the lead to 35-0.

The Wildcats returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards to the end zone for their lone TD to slice the margin to 35-7.

Hill then tallied a 92-yard catch-and-carry reception from Giesige to increase the advantage to 42-7.

Giesige then scurried 55 yards to paydirt to record the final TD.
 

STATS AND NOTES

Bluffton rolled up 531 yards in offense on just 40 plays (13.3 yard per play). They netted 204 yards rushing and 327 aerially. The Pirates had 16 first downs to 10 by DJ.

The Wildcats totaled 284 yards in offense on 56 snaps (5.1 per play). DJ ran for 247 yards, but threw for just 37 on meager three-of-16 accuracy.

Jefferson committed two turnovers and two penalties for 10 yards. The Pirates made one miscue on a fumble and were flagged twice for 16 yards.

Bluffton was 4-6 on third down, while the Wildcats were 5-13 and 1-8 on fourth down.

Giesige completed 12 of 16 passes for 327 yards, and he ran for 87 yards on five carries.

Lovell netted 118 yards rushing and two scores on 13 attempts. He also snagged a 20-yard reception.

Hill caught three passes for 121 yards and two six-pointers. Lleyton Miller had three receptions for 97 yards. Sprunger caught two aerials for 43 yards and a score. Avery Sprunger added a 38-yard catch. 

Miller and Kizer Young each intercepted one pass.

Mason Shank recorded four assisted tackles and a sack. Lovell also made four assists and one tackle for loss. Giesige contributed four assists and two solo stops. Kohen Anderson was in on four assists and had one TFL. 

Bluffton hosts winless Spencerville (0-5, 0-2 NWC) Friday, Sept. 25 to start the second half of the regular season. The struggling Bearcats lost to Columbus Grove Friday, 56-0.

The Pirates are 3-0 on the road and 2-0 at home this season.

Bluffton is first in the latest Div. V, Region 18 computer rankings. Archbold (5-0) ranks second in the 25-team region.