Beavers named Team of the Week by Ohio College Football

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http://www.ohiocollegefootball.com/members/ocf/blog/VIEW/00000061/000026...

Bluffton University along with Youngstown State University were named the Teams of the Week by OhioCollegeFootball.com following a pair of big wins over the weekend. It is the first time Bluffton has been recognized as a Team of the Week by OCF.

The Beavers defeated the Mount St. Joseph Lions, 14-7, at Salzman Stadium. It marked the first time the Beavers (3-1, 2-0 HCAC) had beaten the Lions since 2001, a string of 10 straight setbacks at the hands of MSJ. It was the first time since 2000 that Bluffton has opened the season 3-1 and 2-0 in the HCAC.

The Youngstown State Penguins, who are members of the Miami Valley Football Conference (NCAA FCS) and ranked No. 4 in the FCS Coaches Poll, defeated No. 8 ranked Northern Iowa, 42-35, snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Panthers. YSU improve to 4-0 overall for the first time since 2000.

Junior Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) paced the Beaver ground attack, picking up 81 yards on 17 carries and scoring twice. Freshman Calib Alexander (Ocala, Fla./St. John Lutheran) ran the ball 18 times for 65 yards. Tyler Wright (Troy) led the Beavers through the air, completing 10-of-14 passes for 104 yards. Ryan Sabin (Canal Winchester) caught four of those passes for 70 yards.

Ben Kaufman (Ottawa-Glandorf) totaled 11 tackles, three of the solo variety, to lead the Beavers on defense. Josh Runda (Lima/Bath) also had a stellar defensive performance, racking up nine tackles, including four solo tackles and three tackles-for-loss. Nick Smith (Troy) and Mike Johnson (Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton Township) chipped in with eight tackles each. Derek Woods (Springfield/South) had a late interception to go along with his four stops.

The Beavers will look to stay unblemished in the Heartland Conference when they welcome Manchester University (0-4, 0-2 HCAC) to Salzman Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012. Bluffton has won the last two meetings with the Spartans, including the first ever Beaver overtime win at North Manchester, Ind., in 2011.