By Cort Reynolds
CONVOY–The Bluffton High School football team scored on a long fourth-period pass to rally past Crestview 17-14 in a seesaw Northwest Conference bout on a cool Friday night, September, 23.
The Pirates stayed in a first-place tie with Allen East atop the NWC with their third straight win as they improved to 3-0 in the league.
Bluffton is now 4-2 overall.
Slumping Crestview fell to 3-3 and 0-3 in the NWC with their third consecutive defeat after a 3-0 start.
After a scoreless first quarter, Crestview broke on top 7-0. Knight Kellin Putman found the end zone on a five-yard touchdown reception from backup quarterback Bryson Penix at the 6:31 mark of the second period.
With 54 seconds left in the first half, Bluffton got on the scoreboard defensively. A Crestview holding penalty in the end zone gave the Pirates a safety to make the intermission score the unusual tally of 7-2.
Bluffton took its first lead with 5:38 left in the third quarter as Landon Shutler scored on a two-yard run. Garret Bogart connected with Gavin Bogart on a tipped pass to convert the two-point try for a 10-7 margin.
But the Knights responded to regain the lead 37 seconds into the fourth period. Isaac Kline authored a five-yard touchdown run to put the hosts back in front, 14-10.
But just 34 seconds later, speedy Braeden Jordan hauled in an 85-yard TD reception from Garret Bogart and raced down the Pirate sideline to put the visitors back on top.
Kyle Basil's PAT kick made it 17-14, and neither team scored over the final 10:49.
1 2 3 4 F
Cvw 0 7 0 7 14
Bluf 0 2 8 7 17
Notes and stats
Bluffton netted 211 yards on 46 plays (4.6 yards per snap). Meanwhile, Crestview was held to 179 yards on 56 (3.2 avg.).
The Pirates rushed for 80 total yards and passed for 131. The Knights compiled 102 rushing yards and 77 through the air.
Garret Bogart completed five of nine passes for 131 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He added 14 yards rushing.
Jordan caught two aerials for 116 yards and the game-winning TD.
Landen Worcester netted 38 yards rushing on eight tries. Shutler gained 36 yards on nine runs.
Playing in place of the injured Carson Hunter, Penix completed 11 of 19 passes for 77 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He also netted 66 rushing yards on 16 attempts.
Knight Beau Eggleston caught six passes for 57 yards. Kline ran for 45 yards and a TD on 12 carries.
Kameron Coughlan led the Pirates with 16 tackles, including 15 assists. Carson Kruse was in on 13 tackles with 11 assists. Worcester made an interception and had 11 stops with 10 assists. Xavier Luginbihl had a sack and a tackle for loss.
Bluffton converted four of 19 third down tries, while Crestview was four for 13. The Knights made it on four of six fourth down attempts.
Crestview amassed 12 first downs to six by Bluffton.
Each team committed one turnover. The Pirates were penalized eight times for 64 yards, while the Knights were flagged twice for five yards.
Coming Up
First-place Bluffton plays at tough Leipsic (3-3, 2-1 NWC) next Friday, September 30 in a key league game. The Vikings are in a three-way tie for second with Columbus Grove and Delphos Jefferson in the league standings.
The Vikings lost 23-0 at two-time defending NWC champion Grove (4-2, 2-1 NWC) Friday in week six.
Bluffton is 2-1 on the road, while Leipsic is 2-1 at home. Against their two common league opponents thus far with the Pirates, the Vikings whipped Spencerville 55-14 and trounced Ada 47-14.
Bluffton beat Ada 31-7 and topped the Bearcats 54-35, each at home.
Both teams lost at Pandora-Gilboa in non-league action. Leipsic fell at P-G 33-21 in week three, while Bluffton lost to the Rockets 42-7 in week two.
The Pirates are 18th in the Div. V, Region 18 rankings. Leipsic is 19th in the Div. VII, Region 26 computer ratings.
