Bluffton gridders grounded by Rockets
By Cort Reynolds
The Bluffton High School football team lost at local rival Pandora-Gilboa 42-7 in a non-league contest Friday night, August 26.
The defeat dropped the Bluffton record to 1-1, while P-G improved to 1-1 with the decisive win.
The Rockets scored the first touchdown on a seven-yard run to seize a 7-0 lead.
Pirate junior Gavin Bogart tallied a touchdown on a 36-yard run in the first period. Kyle Basil's point after kick tied it 7-7 heading to the second period.
But the Rockets then ran off the next 35 points to win going away.
Two TD runs gave P-G a 21-7 lead at halftime.
A 42-yard scoring aerial extended the Rocket lead to 28-7 after three periods.
P-G added TDs on runs of 46 and three yards in the fourth quarter to provide the final margin.
1 2 3 4 F
Blu 7 0 0 0 7
P-G 7 14 7 14 42
Notes and stats
Bluffton netted 235 yards on 59 plays for a 3.9 yard average per play. P-G racked up 470 yards on 58 snaps (8.1 avg.). The Pirates compiled nine first downs and gave up 20 chain-movers.
Bluffton rushed for 125 yards, while the Rockets amassed 254 yards on the ground. Balanced P-G also accumulated 216 yards through the air.
Pirate QB Garret Bogart completed 10 of 22 passes for 110 yards.
Gavin Bogart rushed five times for 73 yards and the lone Pirate TD.
Landon Shutler netted 33 yards on 14 carries. Garret Bogart added 23 yards on eight runs.
Braeden Jordan caught three passes for 50 yards. Hayden Dearth snared one aerial for 32 yards.
Jordan and Quinn Eachus each made one interception. Ian Rieman and Kameron Coughlan both recovered a fumble.
Landen Worcester led the defense with 12 tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss.
Bluffton committed one turnover while P-G made four miscues. The Pirates were penalized six times for 67 yards, while P-G was flagged just twice for five yards.
P-G converted five of nine third down attempts, and went 1-1 on fourth down. The Pirates were four for 14 on third down, and 1-3 on fourth down tries.
Bluffton hosts Defiance Ayersville (1-1) Friday, September 2. The Pilots beat Delphos Jefferson 41-21 in week two, but lost to Delta 22-19 in their opener.