Visiting Leipsic rallied from an early deficit to defeat Bluffton 28-14 in a Northwest Conference clash Friday night, October 1, at Harmon Field. (BHS video coverage at https://youtu.be/fcSMEeNsspI)
The Pirates led 6-0 after one period, but then the Vikings reeled off 28 unanswered points to build an insurmountable cushion. Bluffton tallied a mid-fourth period touchdown to reduce the final margin to 14.
Leipsic quarterback Dillon Niese threw four touchdown passes to pace the victors.
Bluffton fell to 4-3 and 1-3 in league play after its second loss in a row.
The Vikings, first-year league members, improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the NWC with the victory.
Bluffton senior quarterback Nate Schaadt tallied on a one-yard TD plunge with 2:13 to go in the first quarter to give the hosts an early lead.
But the extra point kick try missed to keep the margin at 6-0.
Niese connected with Quin Schroeder on a 36-yard scoring strike with 10:04 left in the first half to tie the contest.
Schroeder's extra point kick was good to give Leipsic a 7-6 lead they would take to halftime, and never relinquish.
Neither team would score again for over 21 minutes as the contest turned into a defensive battle.
Niese and Schroeder then hooked up again on a six-yard TD pass with just 45 seconds to go in the previously scoreless third stanza.
Schroeder's second PAT boot advanced the Viking lead to 14-6.
After a Bluffton turnover following the ensuing kick-off, Leipsic scored quickly to seize complete control. A mere 14 seconds after the prior score, Niese hit Trent Siefker with a 22-yard TD aerial.
Schroeder's extra point kick extended the lead to 21-6 with 31 ticks remaining in the third period.
Leipsic scored again on its next possession when Niese and Schroeder teamed up for their third TD pass play, this time from 62 yards out.
Schroeder's fourth PAT kick put the game out of reach at 28-6 with 8:48 left to play.
Schaadt stopped the 28-point Viking run on a nine-yard scoring strike to Jackson Wilson with 7:15 left to play. Schaadt then connected with Hayden Dearth on a two-point conversion pass to cut the final deficit to 28-14.
1 2 3 4 F
Leip 0 7 14 7 28
Bluf 6 0 0 8 14
Notes and stats
Leipsic out-gained Bluffton 364-134 yards in total offense. The Vikings averaged 5.6 yards per play on 65 snaps. The Pirates averaged 2.8 yards on just 48 plays.
The Vikings ran the ball 38 times for just 84 yards (2.3 average). The Pirates netted 51 yards rushing on 25 carries for a 2.0 average gain.
Leipsic compiled 17 first downs to seven by the Pirates.
Schaadt completed nine of 22 passes for 83 yards and one TD. The leading Pirate rusher was held to seven yards on eight runs.
Landon Shutler ran for 20 yards on 11 carries. Beau Stever added 19 yards on four rushes. Stever also authored a 65-yard punt return, and led the defense with 9.5 tackles.
Dearth hauled in two receptions for 66 yards. Wilson caught one ball for nine yards and a TD. Gavin Bogart added a catch for eight yards.
Niese completed 18 of 28 passes for 242 yards and four TDs with one interception. Schroeder also completed one pass for 38 yards.
Schroeder snared seven receptions for 146 yards and three scores. He also scored 22 of the 28 Leipsic points with his hands and kicking foot. Siefker caught seven aerials for 111 yards and one TD.
Viking back Fabian Pena netted 46 yards rushing on 16 tries. Estevan Carrillo added 29 yards on six rushes.
Both teams committed two turnovers as each lost a fumble and threw an interception. Leipsic lost 40 yards on four penalties, and Bluffton was flagged three times for 20 yards.
Leipsic converted three of 14 third down tries and was two for five on fourth down. Bluffton succeeded on three of 13 third down attempts, and failed to convert both of its tries on fourth down.
The Vikings won the time of possession battle, 28:59 to 19:01 minutes.
Landon Worcester contributed seven tackles for the Pirate defense, while Kameron Coughlan added 5.5 stops.
Bluffton plays at county rival Allen East (5-2, 3-1 NWC) next Friday. The Mustangs defeated Delphos Jefferson in a 49-35 shootout in their week seven outing.
The Pirates are now 2-2 at home and 2-1 on the road.
