By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School football team shellacked visiting Spencerville 61-0 in a Northwest Conference mismatch on Friday, Sept. 25.

The Pirates raced to a 47-0 halftime lead over the winless Bearcats and cruised to victory.

The Pirates improved to 6-0 and 3-0 in the NWC with the blowout win.

The Bearcats fell to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in NWC play after the defeat.

Bluffton’s Blayne Hill caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Tayte Giesige to start the scoring. Andy Brodman’s point-after kick made it 7-0 early. 

Parker Lovell then tallied consecutive TD runs of 20 and 76 yards. Lleyton Miller snagged a 17-yard scoring aerial from Giesige. Three more Brodman PAT kicks gave the Pirates a commanding 28-0 lead after the opening stanza.

Lovell continued the onslaught with TD scampers of eight and two yards in the second period to stretch the lead to 41-0.

Dylan Painter authored a 42-yard TD run to make it 47-0 at the half.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. Pirate Grayden Warren hauled in a 72-yard scoring strike from Simon Moore in the fourth stanza. Jeht Kruse booted the extra point to balloon the margin to 54-0.

Kohen Anderson found paydirt on a 12-yard run, and Kruse added the PAT to conclude the scoring.

STATS AND NOTES

Bluffton racked up 483 yards on just 31 plays, an average of 15.6 yards per snap. Spencerville was limited to just 109 yards on 39 plays, 2.8 yards per snap.

The Pirates compiled 17 first downs to just three by the Bearcats. Bluffton netted 313 rushing yards compared to 101 on 33 carries by the Bearcats. The Pirates amassed 170 yards aerially, while Spencerville threw for just eight with one-of-five accuracy.

Bluffton averaged 14.9 yards per run.

The Bearcats committed four turnovers, while Bluffton committed none. Spencerville was also 0-10 on third down, while the Pirates were 1-1.

Giesige completed all six of his passes for 98 yards and two TDs. Moore was 1-1 for 72 yards and one score. He also rushed twice for 28 yards.

Lovell racked up four TDs and 197 yards on just nine carries.

Dylan Painter netted 40 yards on two runs. Anderson added 26 yards and one TD on two rushes.

Hill caught four passes for 52 yards and one TD. Warren had one reception for a 72-yard six-pointer. Miller pulled in two grabs for 46 yards and a score.

Zayden Morales was credited with 10 assisted tackles, and he intercepted a pass. Hill also picked off a Bearcat aerial.

Lovell and Braylin Aller each made six assisted stops. Lovell added a tackle for loss. Ethan Roby and Parker Kimmel recovered one fumble apiece.

Bluffton dropped from first place to second in the Div. V, Region 18 computer ratings after the lopsided win. 

BLUFFTON HOSTS LCC IN WEEK 7 SHOWDOWN
The Pirates entertain fellow unbeaten powerhouse Lima Central Catholic (6-0, 3-0 NWC) Friday, October 2 in their first big test of the season. The two teams are tied for first in the NWC at 3-0, so the showdown victor will have the inside track for the league crown.

LCC walloped Fort Loramie 42-7 Friday.

The Thunderbirds are rated first in the Div. VI, Region 22 computer rankings. LCC averages 39.8 points per game and allows 13.5 ppg.

The Pirates tally 47.5 points a game and permit just 11.2 ppg.

LCC beat the Pirates 31-21 last season in Lima. The T-Birds whipped Ft. Loramie 42-7 in week six. LCC handed Columbus Grove (5-1, 2-1 NWC) its lone league loss on the road in week four, 13-6.

As for their lone common opponent so far, the T-Birds walloped Allen East 55-14 in week five, while the Pirates drilled AE 35-13 in week four.