By Evan Skilliter, sports information assistant

Stats http://www.bluffton.edu/athletics/football/2013/09-07-13.htm

The Bluffton University Beavers opened their 2013 campaign on the road as they traveled to Ohio Wesleyan University to face the Battlin’ Bishops. The home squad outscored the Beavers 20-3 in the second quarter en route to a 37-20 victory over visiting Bluffton.

Bluffton struck first after senior Derrick Baksa (Paulding/Wayne Trace) recovered a fumble deep in OWU territory, setting up a 39-yard field goal from senior Austin Sweeney (Adrian, Mich./Whitmer), giving the Beavers a 3-0 lead at the 12:28 mark in the first quarter.  After an OWU touchdown, the Beavers struck again when Nick Sheehan (Monroeville, Ind./Heritage) found Shawn Frost (Edison/Mt. Gilead) on a slant route for a touchdown with just minutes left in the first quarter. An Ohio Wesleyan field goal from 39 yards out tied the score at 10 to end the first quarter.

The only points for the visitors in the second quarter came from a 22-yard Sweeney field goal which made the score 16-13 with 9:43 left in the half. However, the Battlin’ Bishops would score 14 unanswered points before the end of the half, sending the home team into the locker room at halftime enjoying a 30-13 lead.

A Battling Bishop touchdown in the third period put Ohio Wesleyan up 37-13, and it wasn’t until the fourth that the Beavers were able to respond after Frost caught a Sheehan pass for his second score of the day, pulling the Beavers within 17 of the lead, but that was as close as they would get.

Sheehan ended the day completing 19-of-41 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns.  He also added 38 yards rushing on six attempts.  Frost led the Beavers’ receiving core with three catches for 36 yards and two touchdowns.

Eric Fox (Brunswick) and C.J. Sewell (Lima/Shawnee) finished with 36 and 34 rushing yards, respectively. Drake Harrington (West Bloomfield, Mich.) caught four passes for 22 yards while Sewell tallied 30 yards on three catches and Devante Thomas-Wright (Kings Clint.Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) added 29 yards on three catches. The Beavers totaled 281 total yards of offense.  177 yards came in the air while 104 came on the ground.  The visitors turned the ball over twice.

Josh Runda (Lima/Bath) paced the defense with 13 tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks. Travaun Reeves (Berkley, Mich.) added nine tackles while Jeff Parker (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) and Ricky DeBone (Detroit, Mich./Lincoln Park) added seven each. Brad Swavel (Marion/Ridgedale) added three tackles, two for loss, and an interception.

The Beavers will be back in action next Saturday, Sept. 14 at home against Baldwin-Wallace. The game is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m.