The Bluffton University football team traveled to Hanover College for the HCAC-opening clash with the Panthers on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Unfortunately for the Beavers, the Panther defense was too much for a Bluffton team which only totaled 192 yards of total offense on the day, falling 28-10 to Hanover.

Bluffton would get on the scoreboard first when freshman kicker Jake Baumgartner (Toledo/Start) chipped one in from 35 yards out to make the score 3-0 with 8:52 left in the first stanza. Hanover would find the end zone at the end of the first quarter, making it 7-3 in favor of the Panthers. The visitors would score again midway through the second stanza on a 1-yard touchdown run from Shawn Coane to make it 14-3 Panthers going into the break.

The only Beaver touchdown came late in the third when Zachary Nobis (Bryan) connected with Ryan Markoff (Centerville/Valparaiso) for a nine-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-10. Hanover tacked on two more touchdowns in the second half, sealing a 28-10 win over the Beavers thanks to 518 yards of total offense.

Bluffton totaled 192 yards of offense with 50 yards passing and 142 yards in the rushing attack. Nobis went 3-of-10 for 52 yards, and a touchdown on the day. Travon Mason (Erlanger, KY/Lloyd Memorial) would lead the rushing attack with 47 yards on the ground for the day. Darian Greeley (Belleville, MI/Chippewa Valley) would also chip in 39 yards on the ground.

Hanover put up 518 yards of total offense, including 308 through the air and 210 on the ground. Bluffton struggled with just 2-of-14 on third down conversions, while the Panthers went 5-of-14.

McKinley Hunter (Canton, GA/Cherokee) paced the defense for Bluffton with 12 tackles and an interception on the day. Antonio Crossty (Wooster) checked in with eight tackles and a blocked punt for the Beavers.

Following a bye week for the Beavers, they will be back in action Saturday, Oct. 12, when Bluffton will host the Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers for the Homecoming clash. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Alumni Field.