Pirates will host Huron in round 2 on November 8
By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School football team began its post-season with a methodical 21-6 win over visiting Paulding in the first round of Div. VI, Region 22 play at Harmon Field on Friday, November 1.
The Pirates scored a touchdown in each of the first three periods to build a 21-0 lead. Paulding tallied in the final quarter to avoid a shutout.
Bluffton’s Noah Bricker returned the opening kickoff 75 yards to paydirt, and the Pirates never trailed.
Bluffton improved to 10-1 with the workmanlike win to advance to the region 22 quarterfinals vs. Huron. The seventh-seeded Tigers whipped Spencerville 42-7 in their first-round matchup Friday.
Paulding ended its season 6-5 with the loss, the second year in a row their campaign concluded at Harmon Field in the first playoff round. Last year’s game at Bluffton was a 63-6 blowout defeat, so the Panthers were much more competitive this time around.
Versatile senior Bricker got the game off on a high note for Bluffton with his kickoff return to paydirt. He made a nice cut and outran the Panther defense down the left sideline to the end zone.
Jackson Brauen’s extra point boot made it 7-0.
Quarterback Tayte Giesige hooked up with Quinn Eachus on a 22-yard pass to help spark the next scoring drive.
Senior Griffin Stackhouse then hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Giesige. Brauen’s second PAT kick extended the lead to 14-0 in the second quarter.
Paulding drove to the Pirate 40 before halftime. Southpaw quarterback Noah Thomas rolled left and threw deep, but Eachus picked it off along the left sideline inside the 15-yard line.
With nine minutes left in the half Giesige rolled right, faked a pass and then ran diagonally across the grain for 31 yards all the way to the Panther 13. But the Pirates were unable to score.
Pirate sophomore back Parker Lovell eventually found paydirt on an eight-yard run to cap the third stanza march. Brauen’s PAT kick stretched the lead to 21-0.
On the next Panther possession, Lovell forced a fumble which Gabe Meza recovered at the Paulding 35 with 4:51 to go in the third quarter.
Paulding scored on a Thomas four-yard TD pass in the final stanza, but missed the extra point kick.
1 2 3 4 F
Bluf 7 7 7 0 21
Pau 0 0 0 6 6
Notes and stats
Bluffton netted 278 yards in total offense on 57 plays (4.9 yards average). The Panthers amassed 176 yards on 65 snaps (2.8 avg.) against the tough Pirate defense.
The Pirates netted 168 rushing yards on 33 carries (5.1 avg.) and passed for 110 more yards.
The stingy Pirate defense held the Panthers to negative three yards rushing on 23 carries.
Paulding amassed 179 yards aerially with one TD toss. Thomas completed 21 of 36 passes with one TD and one interception.
The Pirates compiled 14 first downs, while the visitors moved the chains 13 times.
Giesige completed 12 of 17 passes for 110 yards with one TD. He also rushed for 49 yards on six carries, with a long run of 31.
Lovell led the ground game with 86 yards and one TD on 19 carries. He added four receptions for 11 yards.
Bricker added 21 yards on four runs.
Stackhouse pulled down three receptions for 52 yards and one score.
Senior Eachus made three catches for 42 yards. He also intercepted a pass.
Carson Kruse was in on 12 tackles, including eight assists. Lovell added seven assists and two solo stops to his offensive effort.
Javen Crawfis made four solo tackles and had four assists. Worcester was in on six tackles, including two solo stops and one tackle for loss. Mason Shank contributed six assists.
Evan Grothause recorded a sack and four total stops. Meza recovered a Panther fumble. He also averaged 38 yards per boot on four punts.
The Pirates committed three penalties for 15 yards, while Paulding was flagged six times for 69 yards.
Bluffton was successful on four of its 10 third down tries, and went 0-4 on fourth down.
Meanwhile, the Panthers converted four of 15 third down attempts, and they went 2-3 on fourth.
The Pirates committed one turnover on a lost fumble. Paulding made two miscues on a pick and a fumble.
Bluffton improved to 5-1 at home. The Pirates have outscored their opposition by a 445-107 margin over 11 games this season (40.5 ppg to 9.7 ppg).
The Pirates have won 22 of their past 25 games.
Pirates to host Huron in round 2
Second seed Bluffton hosts Huron in the Div. VI, Region 22 second round Friday, November 8.
The Tigers (7-4) finished the season ranked seventh in region 22.
Huron has outscored its opposition 263-139 (23.9 ppg-12.6) this season over 11 games. The Tigers have one common opponent with the Pirates this fall.
Huron beat visiting 10th seed Spencerville (5-6) by a 42-7 count in their opening playoff round. Bluffton stomped the NWC rival Bearcats 55-7 in week five at Harmon Field.
The winner will face the winner between third seed Ottawa Hills (9-1) and sixth seed Sherwood Fairview (9-2) in the region 22 semifinals at a neutral site TBA.
OH stomped Ashland Crestview 49-12, and Fairview eliminated Woodmore 41-9 in their first round matchups Friday.
Bluffton advanced to the regional finals last season, winning three playoff games.
