CORRECTION: The Pirates were 2023 NWC runners up; previously the article incorrectly identified them as co-champions.

By Cort Reynolds

DELPHOS__ The visiting Bluffton High School football team walloped Delphos Jefferson 52-7 in their Northwest Conference opener on a hot and rare Saturday afternoon regular season contest, September 14, on Champions Field.

A monster 35-point second quarter propelled the Pirates to the romp victory. Bluffton led 14-0 after the opening stanza, then tallied five touchdowns in the decisive second period.

The Pirates--2023 NWC runners up--improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with the lopsided win.

Meanwhile, the struggling Wildcats fell to 1-3 and 0-1 in the NWC after the loss. 

Bluffton scored two first period touchdowns to take the early lead, and was never headed in the mismatch.

Sophomore Pirate quarterback Tayte Giesige started the scoring on a 75-yard touchdown run. 

Senior Jackson Brauen booted the first of his seven straight extra point kicks to make it 7-0.

Senior Griffin Stackhouse then scurried into the end zone on a 12-yard run to provide a 14-0 lead after one stanza.

Speedster Stackhouse then hauled in a 61-yard catch and carry TD pass from Giesige to open the second quarter assault with a 21-0 advantage.

Senior back Landen Worcester found paydirt on runs of eight and one yards to stretch the lead to 35-0.

Stackhouse snared a 22-yard scoring aerial from Giesige to balloon the margin to 42-0.

Senior Brody Anderson then tallied the fifth TD of the quarter on a 30-yard pass from Giesige to put the Pirates ahead 49-0 at intermission.

Neither team scored in the third stanza with the running clock enabled.

Brauen kicked a 27-yard field goal in the fourth period to advance the lead to 52-0. 

The Wildcats tallied their only score on a 29-yard pass in the fourth period to avoid a shutout and make the final score 52-7.

Bluffton rolled up 465 yards in total offense on 43 plays (10.8 average). The defense limited DJ to just 127 net yards also on 43 snaps (2.9 avg.).

The Pirates ran for 261 yards and passed for 204 more in a balanced offensive effort. Bluffton averaged 9.3 yards per rush. 

Jefferson mustered just 46 yards on the ground via 18 carries (2.6 avg.) against the tough Pirate defense. The Jeff-Cats added 81 yards aerially.

The Pirates racked up 19 first downs, while the Wildcats amassed just seven chain-movers.

Giesige completed an efficient nine of 11 passes for 189 yards and three TDs with no interceptions. He also ran four times for 85 yards and one touchdown. He accounted for 274 yards in total offense.

Worcester netted 40 yards on six carries and scored two TDs. Sophomore Parker Lovell totaled 36 yards on eight tries. Stackhouse netted 21 yards and a TD on two attempts.

Senior Noah Bricker added 19 yards on two runs. Junior Robby Taylor netted 17 yards on his lone pigskin tote.

Stackhouse pulled down four receptions for 112 yards and two TDs. Anderson grabbed two aerials for 47 yards and one score. Junior Javen Crawfis added one catch for 20 yards.

Backup sophomore QB Lleyton Miller completed both of his pass attempts for 15 yards. He also rushed three times for 48 yards.

DJ completed 12 of 22 passes for 81 yards and one TD with one interception. 

Pirate senior Gabe Meza intercepted a pass, recorded a sack and made two tackles for losses. Sophomore Blayne Hill made five stops and two tackles for loss. Junior Jonah Boisvert tallied a sack. Senior Ethan Kohli recovered two fumbles.

The Pirates committed one penalty for five yards while the Wildcats were flagged three times for 30 yards. DJ was just 1-9 on third down and 1-1 on fourth, while the Pirates were 2-5 on third down and 1-1 on fourth.

DJ committed three turnovers, while the Pirates made one miscue on a fumble.

The Pirates have outscored their opposition by a dominating 207-17 margin over four games this season (51.8 ppg to 4.3 ppg). 

Despite the one-sided win, Bluffton remained third in the Div. VI, Region 22 computer rankings. They trail only first-place Hopewell-Loudon (4-0) and Ottawa Hills (3-1).

Bluffton (1-0 NWC) hosts league foe Spencerville (3-1, 0-1 NWC) in a week five battle Friday, Sept. 20. 

The Bearcats lost 45-7 at home to unbeaten Columbus Grove (4-0, 1-0 NWC) in their league lidlifter Friday night.

The defeat dropped Spencerville from second to fifth in the region 22 rankings. The Bearcats won three close non-league games to start the season. 

The Bearcats downed Ridgemont 29-19 in the home and season opener, then edged Wayne Trace on the road 28-27 in week two. The black and red then won at Riverside, 24-21.

The Pirates have won 13 of their last 14 regular season contests, and have captured 16 of the past 18 overall. 

1 2 3 4 F

Blf 14 35 0 3 52

DJ 0 0 0 7 7