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Advance to state semis vs. Cavaliers

By Cort Reynolds

FINDLAY __ The Bluffton High School football team defeated Patrick Henry 24-7 in their Div. VI, Region 22 final matchup at Findlay’s Donnell Stadium Friday night.

The Pirates scored 14 fourth-period points and made two big defensive stops in their own territory to put the Patriots away.

Bluffton improved to 13-1 and advances to the state semifinals vs. Coldwater Nov. 29 at Wapakoneta. 

Coldwater defeated Anna in their regional final Friday, 45-21.

Fourth-seeded Patrick Henry ended its season 11-3 after the loss. 

Bluffton led 3-0 after the opening period on Jackson Brauen’s 29-yard field goal. The Pirates racked up 89 first quarter yards compared to just 33 by Patrick Henry. ▶︎

A long PH pass early in half two was almost intercepted by Javen Crawfis, but he couldn’t hold onto the ball as he hit the turf. The Patriots punted on fourth and eight, and Bluffton took over at its own 46 with 11:11 left in the first half.

Four plays later, Griffin Stackhouse hauled in a 37-yard TD pass from Tayte Giesige with 9:35 remaining in the second stanza. Brauen’s point after kick extended the lead to 10-0.

On the ensuing PH possession, senior quarterback Lincoln Creager completed a nine-yard pass on third and five to move the chains. 

Reid Creager gained seven yards on a short pass. A 12-yard gain on third and three advanced the Patriots to the Pirate 31. Cal Schroeder was tripped up on a four-yard run by Mason Shank.

The 6-3 QB Creager powered through several defenders for a six-yard gain to the 21. Schroeder converted another first down run to the 11. Lincoln Creager then powered his way to paydirt on an 11-yard TD run to cap the drive.

The extra point kick cut the deficit to 10-7 with 1:53 left in the half. 

Giesige was stopped on third and three on the ensuing possession, but the Pirates managed to run out the clock to go to the break up by three.

Bluffton stuffed the first Patriot drive and took over at the Patrick Henry 47 to start the second half after a short punt. On third and eight, they were stuffed and a short punt rolled dead at the Patriot 12.

A holding flag set the Pats back six yards and negated a solid gain on first down. On third and 12 from their own 10, a long Creager pass was intercepted by Crawfis at the PH 42.

Bluffton senior running back Landen Worcester gained six yards to the PH 34. On third and a short two, Giesige kept for a gain of four. A holding penalty nullified a 12-yard run.

On third and 21 at the 41, Bluffton senior Quinn Eachus caught a pass in the flat for a big 20-yard gain. On fourth and one, Giesige pushed forward for two yards to move the chains.

Giesige ran for five yards. Worcester ran around the end for six yards as the quarter ended. On first and goal from the PH eight, Worcester ran into the end zone virtually untouched for a big TD.

Brauen’s extra point boot made it 17-7 with 11:56 remaining in the game as it started to rain.

PH returned the ensuing kickoff to its 24. The Patriots put together multiple first downs. On third and one at the Pirate 18, Lincoln Creager pushed ahead for two yards.

On third down his pass was knocked down by Carson Kruse. On fourth and seven with 6:45 left to play, Schroeder’s pass back to QB Creager on a trick play was broken up by Brody Anderson in the end zone.

Bluffton took over at its own 12 after the turnover on downs. On fourth and one at the 21, Giesige hit a 41-yard punt which was returned to the Pirate 47.

A Creager pass gained 13 yards. His next aerial was batted into the air by Worcester and intercepted by the speedy Stackhouse, who returned it 82 yards to paydirt to put the game out of reach.

Brauen’s PAT kick extended the margin to 24-7 with 3:39 remaining to play.

A loss of 10 on the next PH play as Creager fumbled the wet pigskin drove the Patriots back to the 10. A bad snap brought up fourth and 22 after a Hunter Betts sack. 

Creager’s pass fell incomplete with 86 seconds left and the Pirates took over on the Patriot nine. Giesige took a knee and ran out the clock to clinch it.

1 2 3 4 F

Bluf 3 7 0 14 24

PH 0 7 0 0 7

Notes and stats

Bluffton netted 226 yards in total offense on 47 plays for a 4.8 yard average per play. The Patriots totaled 179 yards on 44 snaps (4.1 avg.).  

The Pirates netted 99 rushing yards on 33 carries (3.0 avg.) and passed for 127 more yards. 

The Pirates amassed 12 first downs, while the Pats also moved the chains  12 times.

Giesige completed 11 of 13 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for a team-high 60 yards on 13 carries, with a long run of 16.

Worcester netted 39 yards on 10 rushes with one TD. He caught four passes for 25 yards.

Stackhouse made two receptions for 48 yards and one TD. He netted 11 yards rushing on four carries.

Eachus had two grabs for 25 yards. Noah Bricker added two catches for 11 yards.

PH QB Lincoln Creager completed eight of 14 passes for just 69 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed for one TD.

Giesige passed for 86 yards on six of eight throwing accuracy in the first half, and the Pirates ran for 61 more. 

PH ran for 82 yards passed for 28 yards before halftime in a defensive-oriented battle.

Carson Kruse led the defense with nine assisted tackles and three solo stops. Worcester had nine assists and one solo tackle.

Crawfis added three solo tackles and three assists to his interception. Bricker contributed six assists. Shank had five assists and one solo stop. Eachus added four assists.

Stackhouse had the pick six plus two solo tackles and a pair of assists.

The Pirates committed two penalties for 15 yards, while PH was flagged once for five yards. 

Bluffton was successful on seven of 12 third down tries, and went 1-1 on fourth down. 

Meanwhile, the Patriots converted just three of nine third down attempts, and they also went 0-3 on fourth.

The Pirates committed no turnovers. PH threw two interceptions.

The Pirates have won 25 of their past 28 games. All three losses came to league rival Columbus Grove. Bluffton has gone 7-1 in the playoffs over the past two post-seasons.