By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School football team led by 13 early but suffered a heartbreaking 17-13 loss to visiting rival Columbus Grove in their annual regular-season finale showdown that decided second place in the Northwest Conference on Friday, Oct. 23 at Harmon Field.

Bluffton led 13-0 after the first period, but injuries and a second-half Grove rally led to the four-point loss.

The Pirates dropped to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the NWC with the defeat to finish third in the league.

Grove improved to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the NWC after the comeback victory to end up second in the eight-team league. 

LCC captured the league title outright at 7-0 after beating both CG and the Pirates in close games. The Thunderbirds stomped Crestview 49-0 Friday to finish a perfect 10-0 regular season.

The Pirates stopped CG quickly, three-and-out to open the game. They then embarked on a long drive mixed with some good runs and passes by senior quarterback Tayte Giesige.

He then connected with Lleyton Miller on a 15-yard scoring strike to cap the march. Andy Brodman’s extra point kick put the Pirates ahead -0 with 4:54 left in the opening stanza.

A long, determined Giesige run set up the next Bluffton score. Parker Lovell scored on a 16-yard scamper to make it 13-0 with to go. The PAT missed to keep the margin at 13.

CG drove downfield in response. Freshman Rylan Palte tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to freshman wideout Tayt Halker with 1:54 left in the half to get Grove within 13-7.

A good kickoff return gave the Pirates the ball at their own 42. A sack and a tackle for loss both authored by Bulldog Gavin Baxter stymied the drive.

A good punt pinned Grove back at their own 10 with over a minute left before the half.

Due to a right ankle injury, an injured Giesige was on crutches to start half two, so Miller took over under center in his place. The senior QB did not return to play.

After a Bulldog stop, a long Baxter run drove Grove inside the Pirate 10 with three minutes left in the third period. A flag and an incompletion moved the Bulldogs back to the 15. On third-and-goal from the 11, Palte’s pass was tipped away by Kizer Young in the end zone.

Left-footed CG kicker Caleb Ricker drilled a 28-yard field goal to cut the Pirate lead to 13-10 with 1:37 left in the third period. 

Ethan Sprunger caught a slant from Miller for a good gain. Lovell converted third and shot with a two-yard run. Miller then scurried 11 yards to the CG 44.

On third and 22, Miller completed a hook and lateral to Lovell for 21 yards. But on fourth and one, CG’s Brady Basinger flew in and stopped Miller for a big loss of two to turn it over on downs.

Grove struck immediately when Gavin Baxter rambled 64 yards to paydirt after catching a lateral. The TD was negated by an illegal participation sideline flag in Pirate territory, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the 23 instead.

Nevertheless, CG converted a clutch fourth-and-inches two-yard run to earn first and goal at the 10. Baxter then broke some tackles and powered into the end zone from 10 yards out to put Grove ahead for the first time, 16-13. 

Ricker’s extra point gave Grove a 17-13 edge with 6:23 remaining to play and capped the 64-yard march.

On the ensuing Pirate possession, Miller was stopped on third and 12 to force a punt. Grove took over at its own 38 and drove methodically to the Pirate one to milk the clock. 

Baxter authored a big 20-yard run to ignite the march, followed by a key third-and-short six-yard run by Brody McCluer.

On another third-and-four, Baxter muscled to the Bluffton one-yard line in the final minute to clinch the outcome. CG took two knees and ran out the clock to win by four. 

The Bulldogs ran off the final 5:18 to preserve the hard-fought victory.

CG has now won the last 10 meetings between the rivals, including a playoff win a few years ago.

Stats and notes

Bluffton compiled 267 total yards and 17 first downs on 53 plays. The Pirates ran for 188 yards and threw for 79.

CG amassed 224 yards and 10 chain-movers on 45 plays. Grove netted 205 yards on the ground and only had 19 aerially.

The Pirates were 3-8 on third down and 0-2 on fourth. CG went 4-10 on third down and 1-2 on fourth.

Giesige completed four of five passes for 37 yards and one TD. He also netted 60 yards on eight runs. 

Miller threw 4-7 in relief for 37 yards with one interception. Miller gained 32 yards rushing on seven carries.

Lovell ran the ball 20 times for 78 yards and one six-pointer. Blayne Hill added 18 yards on five runs. Hill also caught four passes.

Ethan Sprunger snagged two aerials for 33 yards. Lovell had a 21-yard reception, and Miller added the 15-yard TD catch.

Lovell made six solo stops and had seven assists. Zayden Morales was in on seven assists and had two solo stops.

Baxter ran for over 100 yards as Grove averaged 5.4 yards per carry.

The Pirates committed the game’s only turnover. They had one penalty for 10 yards. CG was flagged three times for 51 yards.

Playoff home game

The Pirates finished fifth in the Div. V, Region 18 computer rankings, one spot away from a first-round bye. They will host Creston Norwayne (6-4) in the first round of playoffs Friday, Oct. 30.

The Bobcats lost their first three games, but won six of their last seven to finish strongly. Norwayne had a five-game win streak from weeks four through eight when they averaged 30.2 points per game.

The Pirates score 41.6 ppg and allow 13.5 ppg.

The winner will play at fourth seed Archbold (9-1) in the region 18 quarterfinals. The Bluestreaks were 9-0 until suffering a week 10 league title showdown loss at 10-0 Liberty Center Friday, 42-10. 

LC won the Northwest Ohio Athletic League championship with the decisive victory at 7-0.

1 2 3 4 F

Bluf 13 0 0 0 13

CG 0 7 3 7 17