What do the years 1956, 1966, 1976 and 1996 mean to BHS football fans?
Where have the football seasons gone?
There's something very special about Bluffton High School football seasons that end with a "6."
Take the teams of: 1996, 1976, 1966 and 1956, as examples. Each of these teams won a Northwest Conference football title.
THE 1996 TEAM PHOTOS IS BELOW - The team will be recognized Friday night at Harmon Field.
Alex Hanna, BHS athletic director, told The Icon that each of those teams will be recognized during home games this season.
"This season we would like to recognize some past NWC champion football teams here at Bluffton," he said.
"Players and coaches of the recognized teams will get free admission to the game. We will have the team members take the field just before kick off, immediately following the National Anthem."
Here are the dates and the teams recognized:
Sept. 9, Fort Loramie game - 1996 NWC Champions - 20 years
Oct. 7, Spencerville game - 1976 NWC Champions - 40 years
Oct. 14, Ada game - 1966 NWC Champions - 50 years
Oct. 28, Columbus Grove game - 1956 NWC Champions (First ever NWC championship for Bluffton) - 60 years
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- October 21 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Village of Beaverdam requests suggestions for park grant application
- Charles “Chuck” Wendall Collins, 63, owned Eagle Press Repairs
- Dwain L. Leiber, 87, owned Leiber Garage
- Kimberly Dawn Murphy, 55, taught at Findlay City Schools
- October 21 Bluffton Schools 2-hour delay
- Kaleidoscope Farms honoring veterans, thanking current troops, Nov. 8
- Filmmaker to preview documentary exploring life beyond incarceration
- ONU mobile health clinic at Senior Center on Oct. 28
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Columbus Grove-Bluffton Rd. closure planned for up to three weeks
- Two Pirate volleyball players make 1st team All-NWC
- 3 Pirate girls 1st team All-NWC soccer
- Pirates dominate All-NWC boys soccer awards
- Local filmmaker focuses on memories made by people and places
- Bluffton Public Library: Medicare 101
- BHS artists prepare Yankee Doodle Christmas Trees for Jingle Bell Stroll
Monday, October 19, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 14-18
- Ada Icon headlines, October 19
- JessExpress Travel is the Icon's newest advertiser
- Gatchel 7th in girls, Pirates 4th at NWC cross country meet
- Veterans invited to Pandora-Gilboa banquet, November 10
- Wearable sculptures featured in exhibit On Soft Ground
- Historic depot rentals offered for meetings and parties