By Sam Brauen
Crestview showed up in a big way in the second quarter ripping off 28 unanswered points on their way to a 41-21 Northwest Conference victory over Bluffton.
Dakota Bricker scored two first quarter touchdowns to stake Bluffton to a surprising 14-6 lead. From there the Knights took to the ground and pounded the Pirates into submission. Crestview clinched a playoff spot with the win and improved to 6-3. Bluffton dropped their fifth consecutive contest and fell to 3-6. The Pirates will close their season against Columbus Grove Friday evening.
The Bluffton University football team welcomed Manchester University on a windy but comfortable Saturday, Oct. 22. The Beavers improved to 6-1 (4-1 HCAC) on the season after a convincing 34-6 victory. The Spartans remain winless, dropping to 0-7 (0-5 HCAC).
Ottoville came to Bluffton for their second game of a sectional boys' soccer match. Bluffton, playing its first game after taking a bye, knocked off the Big Green, 3-0.
Playing in a steady rain, the teams traded splashes till the 7th minute when Luke Young took the pass from Josh Begg and buried it in the net.
Bluffton's Andie Schmutz, senior, was named to the first team all-Northwest Conference in volleyball. The announcement was made earlier this week by a vote of the NWC coaches.
Kayla Schimmoeller, Bluffton junior, was named honorable mention. Bluffton finished the season 2-6 in the NWC and 6-15 overall.
The attachment includes the entire list of NWC all-conferenc players.
2016 is Bluffton High School’ year for soccer in the Northwest Conference. Both boys’ and girls’ team won NWC titles and finished unbeaten in conference play. And, the all-Northwest Conference teams are loaded with Pirates.
Boys’ soccer
Senior Antony Kingsley, was named the 2016 boys’ soccer Northwest Conference Player of The Year and boys’ coach Steve Smucker was named Coach of the Year.
Kingsley was a unanimous selection as player of the year in a vote where coaches could not vote for their own players.
Bluffton hosted the Allen East Mustangs for the second time this year in the Division III sectional semifinal game on Tuesday night.
Both teams battled significant wind on Steinmetz Field in front of a packed stadium.
The score was 0-0 at the end of the first half, but the the Lady Pirates managed to land goal 1 at the 33 minute mark of the second half, when Sophomore Averey Rumor played the ball up to Senior Sarah Theisen, who dribbled up field and hit the back of the net.
