By Bryan Kress
Game stats in attachment at bottom of story.
Troy Breidenbach game photos click here.
With the rain pouring down and a field as torn up as it was any team has a chance to win, even 0-5 Allen East had a chance to win.
This was not to be the case as Bluffton earned their 4th win of the season, but in a game that was closer than anyone would have thought, 21-14.
What a game to start your 1st game in high school in front of your home crowd and in a downpour, which was the case for freshman quarterback Robbie Stratton. Stratton finished his 1st high school start completing 14 passes out 19 for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, with 48 yards rushing.
The first score of the game came after Bluffton forced a 3-and-out on Allen East's first possession. Stratton finished a 7 play drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Matt Gillett.
The next Allen East possession ended in an interception by Keshaun Hughes, Hughes also had 29 yards rushing. Stratton then hit Gillett again, this time for a 19-yard touchdown. Gillett finished the game with 6 catches for 40 yards and the 2 touchdowns.
The game seemed to be out of hand as Bluffton took a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter, but 2 consecutive turnovers, an interception and a fumble, led to a touchdown pass for Allen East.
There would be no more scoring until the first possession of the 2nd half when Bluffton took the ball 89 yards on 14 plays, easily the longest drive on the night, and finished with a 15-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Basinger. Basinger led Bluffton with 58 yards on the ground.
That would be all that the Bluffton offense could come up with, as the game would come down to defense.
Allen East would run a score in to make it 21-14 in the 4th quarter making the game much closer than Bluffton had wanted, but Matt Gillett intercepted the final Allen East pass and Stratton would take a knee to end the game.
On defense Bluffton allowed only 124 yards total, a huge improvement over last week. Logan Skelly and Zach Devier both had 6 tackles and 1 sack each, and Jeremy Basinger led the defense with 12 tackles.
Bluffton will go for their 5th win at home against Spencerville (4-2).
