PHOTOS by James Crawfis / Click photo to open gallery viewer

By Cort Reynolds

WAPAKONETA __ The Bluffton High School football team had its highly successful 2024 season ended in the Div. VI state semifinals by Coldwater 28-6 on a cold and windy at Wapakoneta’s Harmon Field on November 29.

Bluffton finished its historic season with a 13-2 record after the defeat.

Coldwater advanced to the state finals at 14-1 with the win. Their only loss came to multiple-time defending state champion Marion Local (15-0).

The Cavaliers advance to play perennial power Kirtland Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m. in Canton’s Tom Benson Stadium. Kirtland defeated Galion Northmor in their state semifinal Friday at Minerva, 41-7.

Bluffton received the opening kickoff, but their initial drive was derailed at the 45 by a bad snap that lost nine yards. After a very short punt in the snow, Coldwater took over at the Cavalier 43. 

On third down, a crucial 35-yard pass from senior Baylen Blockberger to Cadin Obringer reached the Pirate 17. The 6-4 Blockberger then completed a nine-yard toss to the Bluffton five to extend the march. 

Cavalier senior running back Miles Pottkotter then punched it into the end zone on a five-yard run with 6:38 remaining in the opening period. The extra point by Bryce Couchot made it 7-0 and capped the 57-yard, seven-play drive.

The teams traded punts as the first quarter ended. A big 12-yard sack thwarted the Pirate possession. On Coldwater’s next drive, they advanced to the Bluffton 20. 

On third and eight, a second false start penalty in a row made it third and 13. A trick pass was broken up to necessitate fourth and long.

Blockberger’s aerial was grabbed by senior Mason Welsch on a fine catch for a 21-yard gain to the nine. Pottkotter muscled seven yards to the two.  Senior back Cody Depweg then pushed his way two yards to paydirt with six minutes left in the first half.

The Couchot point after kick extended the Cavalier lead to 14-0.

A 42-yard return on the ensuing kickoff by Quinn Eachus gave Bluffton good field position just across midfield. On third down, a Tayte Giesige pass fell incomplete to bring up fourth and 11.

The Pirates elected to punt and Giesige’s boot rolled out of bounds at the 31 with 4:51 left in the second period. A 12-yard pass to Welsch moved the chains. A 17-yard run by Braxton Taylor reached the Pirate 40.

An acrobatic catch inside the 10 by Caleb Schroer was negated by a Cavalier holding penalty. But on third and 20, Welsch rambled 16 yards to the Pirate 34.

On fourth and four with 1:54 left in the half, Pottkotter ran around end for nine yards. On second and eight, the 6-2 Welsch caught a 15-yard pass. On first and goal, Depweg bulled his way to the four. 

Behind good blocking, Depweg trotted from the Wildcat formation into the end zone on a four-yard TD run with 28 ticks left before intermission to cap the 69-yard march. Couchot’s third extra point stretched the lead to 21-0 at the half.

In the first half, Bluffton was limited to 72 yards in total offense. The Pirates rushed for just 10 yards and passed for 62 yards. Griffin Stackhouse pulled in two receptions for 37 yards to lead the offense.

Balanced Coldwater rolled up over 250 yards in total first-half offense, evenly distributed between the ground and air. 

The Cavaliers scored on a two-yard run early in the third period to build a 28-0 margin. But on their next drive, Coldwater fumbled and Brody Anderson recovered.

The Bluffton drive stalled and a Pirate punt rolled out of bounds at the Cavalier 33 midway through the third period.

After a defensive stop, Stackhouse hauled in a 27-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Giesige. A Giesige run penetrated the Coldwater 20 for the first time in the game.

Bluffton senior running back Landen Worcester powered seven yards to the Cavalier 12. On third and three, Giesige ran for a yard. On fourth and two the QB was stopped for no gain to turn it over on downs.

Coldwater took over on its own 11 with 52 seconds left in the third period. The Cavaliers drove to midfield, but fumbled and Worcester recovered at the 50.

The Pirates reached the Cavalier 17 on a Worcester run. A screen pass to Noah Bricker gained two yards. On fourth and three, a Giesige pass to Miller gained five yards.

Worcester muscled his way five yards to the five. On third down, Worcester hammered into the end zone from six yards with 5:33 remaining to get Bluffton on the board.

Giesige’s two-point pass was batted down to keep the margin at 22, 28-6.

Pirate Carson Kruse recovered the ensuing, slow-rolling on-sides kickoff at the 50. But on the next play, Giesige’s pass was batted into the air and intercepted by Depweg at the 49.

On fourth and one, Depweg ran straight ahead for six yards and a first down. Coldwater gained another first down, and ran the clock out.

1 2 3 4 F

Bluf 0 0 0 6 6

Cwtr 7 14 7 0 28

Notes and stats

It was the first time since 1991 that the Pirates advanced to the state semifinals. In 1991 they lost the Div. V title game to Newark Catholic by a 34-13 count.

Bluffton netted 192 yards in total offense on 53 plays for a 3.6 yard average per play. The Cavaliers totaled 306 yards on 59 snaps (5.2 avg.).  

The Pirates netted 82 rushing yards on 30 carries (2.7 avg.) and passed for 110 more yards. 

Coldwater racked up 184 yards rushing on 42 tries (4.4 avg.)

The Pirates compiled just nine first downs, while the Cavs moved the chains 15 times.

Giesige completed 10 of 21 passes for 110 yards and one interception. He also rushed for 42 yards on 14 carries to end the season with 846 yards rushing.

Worcester netted 48 yards on 13 rushes with the lone Pirate TD. He caught one pass for nine yards.

Stackhouse made three receptions for 71 yards, with a long of 34. 

Bricker hauled in four catches for 20 yards.

Blockberger completed eight of 13 passes for 122 yards.

Kruse assisted on 12 tackles and made five solo stops to lead the defense. Bricker contributed five assists and made three solo stops. Worcester had eight assists and made two solo tackles.

Crawfis made one solo tackles and had seven assists. Mason Shank made a sack. Eachus authored two solo stops and made five assists. Xavier Diller made seven assists, while Brody Sommers had six assists.

Worcester and Sommers each recovered a fumble.

Giesige averaged 25 yards per boot on four punts.

The Pirates committed two penalties for 10 yards, while Coldwater was flagged four times for 30 yards. 

Bluffton was successful on just two of 12 third down tries, and went 1-3 on fourth down. 

Meanwhile, the Cavs converted two of eight third down attempts, but they went a clutch 4-4 on fourth down.

The Pirates committed one turnover. Coldwater turned it over twice on two fumbles.

The Pirates have gone 25-4 over the past two seasons. Their other defeat this year was to Columbus Grove (42-0), which also lost in the state semis to Marion Local (41-6) Friday.

Bluffton is 7-2 in the playoffs over the past two post-seasons.