UPDATE Notes and stats added on October 22.
By Cort Reynolds
The Bluffton High School football team lost a 14-7 defensive struggle at Columbus Grove in their Northwest Conference showdown for the league crown Friday night, October 20, on the muddy Clymer Stadium grass surface.
Bluffton finished the regular season 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the NWC with the loss to finish second in the league.
Columbus Grove improved to 8-2 overall and won the outright league crown at 7-0 after the win. CG won its last seven games by outscoring their opposition, 271-55.
It was CG’s 16th all-time NWC crown, tying them with Delphos Jefferson for the most in league annals. Bluffton has won 14 league titles, but none since 2005.
The Pirate defense had its seven-game shutout streak snapped. They had not allowed a point since a week two 28-21 win over Pandora-Gilboa.
SCOREBOARD
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
CG |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
BLF |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
Grove put together a good drive midway through the first period, threatening to score. A third down pass by Landon Best was broken up in the end zone to force a field goal try.
The Evan Verhoff attempt was long enough but sailed just wide right to keep the game scoreless.