Lovell scores 5 TDs

By Cort Reynolds

MILAN__The visiting Bluffton High School football team soundly defeated Milan Edison 42-7 in a non-league game on Friday, August 28.

Bluffton raced to a 28-0 first-half lead for the second week in a row, and tallied 42 points again as well.

Senior back Parker Lovell scored five touchdowns, four on the ground and one on a long catch, to pace the onslaught.

The Pirates improved to 2-0 with the lopsided win, while Edison fell to 0-2.

Lovell started the scoring by hauling in a 36-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tayte Giesige. Bluffton led 7-0 after one period, then poured it on with 21 second-period points.

Lovell found paydirt on runs of 12 and nine yards to extend the margin to 21-0. Giesige got in on the scoring parade by scampering 22 yards to the end zone. Andy Brodman booted all four extra points to give the Pirates a 28-0 cushion at halftime.

Lovell scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter to make it 35-0. Edison broke the shutout with a seven-yard TD run in the fourth period. 

Lovell then put the finishing touch on his career night by speeding 68 yards to the end zone with his fifth and final TD to provide the final margin of 35.

Notes and stats

Lovell rushed for a career-high 215 yards and four TDs on 18 carries. He also caught three passes for 46 yards and one six-pointer.

Giesige completed an efficient 11 of 16 passes for 148 yards and one score. He also rushed six times for 55 yards.

Ethan Sprunger snared two passes for 46 yards. Keatyn Shaffer snagged three passes for 18 yards. Lleyton made two grabs for 16 yards. Blayne Hill added a 22-yard reception.

Miller added five solo tackles, including three for losses. Giesige made three solo stops and had six assists. Zayden Morales had nine assisted tackles and one interception.

Dylan Painter also picked off a pass.

Bluffton rolled up 416 total yards on 44 plays (9.5 per play). The Chargers were limited to 211 yards on 53 snaps (4.0 per play).

The Pirates rushed for 268 yards on 25 carries (10.7 avg,) and passed for 148 more yards. Edison was limited to 43 yards aerially and netted 168 via the ground on 36 rushes.

Bluffton compiled 14 first downs to 13 by Edison. The Pirates were 4-7 on third down and 1-3 on fourth. The Chargers were 4-10 on third down and also went 1-3 on fourth.

Bluffton made no turnovers while the Chargers committed two, both interceptions. Edison completed just five of 11 passes.

In its upcoming home opener, Bluffton hosts Toledo Bowsher (0-2) for week three in the last non-league game on Friday, Sept. 4. 

The Rebels lost at Otsego (47-13) and fell at Genoa Area last week (56-7).