By Takayla Gadberry and Jack Reed, sports information assistants
The Bluffton University football team opened up its Heartland Conference spring slate at Manchester on Saturday.
And, 35 points in the first half was the key to the Beavers' emphatic 49-14 victory over the Spartans. Bluffton improved to 2-0 (1-0 HCAC) on the season, while Manchester fell to 0-3.
After a quiet start, Darian Greeley (Belleville, MI/Chippewa Valley) found the end zone and Justin Rupp (Wauseon/Pettisville) split the uprights to give the Beavers a 7-0 lead at the end of the first.
The Beaver offense sparked early in the second quarter when Greeley found the end zone again and Zachary Nobis (Bryan) connected with SaCari Reese (Southfield, Mich./Oak Park) to give the Beavers a 21-0 lead with 8:45 to play in the half.
A 65-yard fumble recovery from freshman Montez Archer Jr. (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) and a pick-six for Marvus McWright (Westland, MI/Lee M Thurston/Davenport) pushed Bluffton's lead to 35-0, but Manchester answered back with a 92-yard kick-off return touchdown to make the score 35-7 at the half.
It was a quiet third quarter as Manchester found the end zone at the 9:41 mark, cutting their deficit to 35-14. The Beavers put it on ice in the fourth quarter when Nobis connected with Ryan Markoff (Centerville, Ohio/Archbishop Alter/Valparaiso University) and Maalik Tucker (Fostoria) had a 58-yard run to secure the 49-14 victory.
Bluffton's defense forced eight turnovers, including six interceptions which was just one off the school mark set against Earlham in 2012 and Bowling Green in 1932. The eight turnovers were also one shy of the school record. The Beavers put up 424 yards of total offense, compared to just 253 for Manchester.
Archer stole the show with three interceptions and a 65-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. He also led the Beavers with seven stops. His three pickoffs tied Pat Craun and Doniven Clark for the school record of three interceptions in a single game! Junior Louden Saulbeamer (Dayton/Troy Christian) was also in on seven tackles.
Nobis did it with his feet and his arm. The junior completed 14 passes for 220 yards and two scores and he ran the ball six times for a team-high 59 yards. Tucker added 58 rushing yards and Greeley picked up 48 on the ground. Reese hauled in five passes for 87 yards and a score, while Markoff caught four balls for 79 yards.
Bluffton welcomes Anderson University to Salzman Stadium Saturday, March 13, for the 2021 home lidlifter. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.
