• /

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School football team will face its toughest playoff foe yet when they take on Ottawa Hills on Friday, November 10, at Napoleon. Both teams have 11-1 records coming into the Div. VI, Region 22 semifinal game.

The #2 seeded Pirates have rolled over two foes so far by a combined score of 101-6 at home in the post-season. Friday’s game promises to be much more competitive.

The #6 seeded Green Bears won their second straight Toledo Area Athletic Conference title in 2023. Ottawa Hills has outscored its two playoff opponents by a combined 70-28 score.

“Ottawa Hills is a very talented team that is explosive on offense,” said Pirate head coach Jeff Richards. “They spread the ball around and create big plays both running and passing.

“Defensively, they run to the ball well and limit big plays,” he added.

  • /

Find full stories on www.BlufftonBeavers.com/

FOOTBALL: Bluffton falls to MSJ 49-27 on Senior Day

The Bluffton University football team gave HCAC-leading Mount St. Joseph all it wanted in a 49-27 loss on a beautiful Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. The Beavers slipped to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the Heartland Conference, while MSJ stayed perfect at 6-0 in the conference with an 8-1 mark on the season.

  • /

2 Bluffton (11-1) vs. 6 Toledo Ottawa Hills (11-1) at Napoleon High School Buckenmeyer Stadium

COLUMBUS__The Ohio High School Athletic Association released the football regional semifinal playoff pairings Sunday afternoon, with neutral sites hosting third-round games at 7 p.m. this Friday, November 10.

The regional finals are Friday, November 17, followed by the state semifinals on Friday, November 24. The state championship games are November 30, December 1 and 2 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

  • /

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School soccer teams placed multiple players on all-district teams in voting recently conducted by the Northwest Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.

  • /

Bluffton capitalizes on 5 Wynford turnovers

By Cort Reynolds

The rugged Bluffton High School defense posted its eighth shutout of the season, and the offense was sharp as the Pirates rolled to a 38-0 win against a visiting, overmatched Wynford squad at Harmon Field Friday night, November 3, in a Div. VI, Region 22 football playoff mismatch.

The Royals committed five costly turnovers, and the Pirates capitalized to win their second round bout going away.

Bluffton improved to 11-1 with the one-sided victory. Wynford ends its season 7-5 after the decisive shutout loss.

The #2 seed Pirates will play Ottawa Hills (11-1) next Friday in the region 22 semifinals at a site TBA, possibly Findlay. 

The #6 seed Green Bears went on the road and upset #3 seed Colonel Crawford 28-21 in their second round bout Friday.

“Our defense did a great job of bending and not breaking,” said Pirate head coach Jeff Richards. “When we were able to force turnovers the offense did a good job of capitalizing.

“It was a good, physical team win,” he added. (Continues)

  • /

By Cort Reynolds

Bluffton junior setter Grace Yarnell was voted second team All-District 8 for Divisions I-II-III in voting recently conducted by the area volleyball coaches.

Yarnell led the Pirate girls in assists (630) and aces (55), and was second on the team in digs with 224. The 5-7 junior also knocked down 65 kills and came up with 17 blocks.

The versatile Yarnell was also voted first team All-Northwest Conference. She helped lead Bluffton to an 18-5 overall record and to third place in the nine-team NWC standings at 6-2.

Pages