By Cort Reynolds
The Bluffton High School football team kicked off its 2023 season with a dominating 42-7 win over visiting Ben Logan Friday night at Harmon Field.
The Pirates racked up 21 points in each of the first two quarters to build a commanding 42-0 lead, and won going away.
Junior Landen Worcester scored three rushing touchdowns and ran for 125 yards to pace the Pirate offense.
The Pirates out-gained the Raiders 368-139 in total offense.
Worcester put Bluffton ahead early with TD runs of 11 and one yards in the first period to provide a 14-0 lead.
Braeden Jordan then hauled in a 41-yard TD pass from Garret Bogart. Kyle Basil booted his third straight extra point to extend the margin to 21-0 after one quarter.
Bogart found paydirt on a one-yard plunge to stretch the lead to 21-0 early in the second stanza.
Worcester galloped 49 yards to the end zone for a 35-0 cushion.
Noah Bricker added the final Bluffton TD on a seven-yard run. Basil finished a perfect six for six on extra points to close the Pirate scoring and make it 42-0 at intermission.
BL tallied its lone score on a 33-yard touchdown run in the fourth period.
Worcester netted 125 yards on 21 carries with three TDs. Bricker added 45 yards and a score on six runs.
Bogart completed all four of his passing attempts for 99 yards and one TD. Jordan caught two passes for 63 yards and a TD. Hayden Dearth snagged two aerials for 21 yards.
Carson Kruse led the defense with eight tackles and one sack. Quinn Eachus and Javen Crawfis each intercepted a pass.
Bluffton rushed for 265 yards and passed for 103. The Pirates amassed 21 first downs to just seven by BL. Bluffton made one turnover, while the Raiders were guilty of two miscues.
The Pirates averaged 7.8 yards per play on 47 snaps. BL averaged 3.6 yards per play on 39 snaps.
Bluffton (1-0) hosts local non-league rival Pandora-Gilboa (1-0) Friday, August 25.
P-G won its opener 25-22 over Columbus Grove on a 15-yard TD pass from Cory Gerten to Aidan Morris with one second left to play on August 17.
