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.
OTTAWA __ The Bluffton High School cross country teams competed at the 22-team Ottawa Blue and Gold Invitational Saturday morning, September 14.
Van Wert won the boys team title with 49 points. Bryan finished second with 74 points, followed by Defiance Tinora (103). Bath came in fourth with 123. Napoleon nosed out host Ottawa-Glandorf to win the girls team meet, 79-87. Kenton finished third with 120 points.
LIMA __ The visiting Bluffton girls soccer squad scored 12 first half goals and went on to defeat Lima Central Catholic 12-0 in a Northwest Conference mismatch on Thursday night, September 12.
The Pirate record improved to 5-2-1 overall and 3-0 in NWC play after the blowout win. LCC fell to 0-7 overall and 0-4 in the NWC with the lopsided loss.
Pirate Jordan Schweingruber started the onslaught with an unassisted goal in the sixth minute.
BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School boys soccer team scored a pair of goals early in the second half to defeat visiting Kenton 2-0 in a non-league match on Thursday evening, September 12, at Steinmetz Field.
The Pirate record improved to 3-6 with the victory. The Wildcats fell to 3-3-2 after the shutout loss.
The game was scoreless at halftime. Bluffton’s Chase Kelly then broke the ice with a goal in the 44th minute on an assist by Jackson Brauen.
By Cort Reynolds HUDL video highlights BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School volleyball team easily swept visiting local rival Allen East in the Northwest Conference opener Tuesday evening.
The Pirates dominated the Mustangs in straight sets 25-11, 25-15, 25-7.
FINDLAY __ The visiting Bluffton High School boys soccer team fell behind early and lost 4-1 at powerhouse Liberty-Benton in a non-league match Tuesday evening, September 10.
The Pirate record dropped to 2-6 with the defeat. The Eagles improved to 7-1 after the win.
L-B led 2-1 at halftime and added two more goals after intermission to put the game out of reach.
Eagle ace Trevor Ferris found the back of the net just 80 seconds into the game, and L-B never trailed.
