Pirates Football defeats Mustangs | Bluffton icon

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School football team dominated their traditional Northwest Conference backyard game 43-7 against local rival Allen East on Friday night, Oct. 18, at Harmon Field.

The game was preceded by the postponed homecoming parade and presentations celebrating Harmon Field’s 100th anniversary.

The Pirates took a 20-0 lead after one period of play and were never in danger.

The Bluffton exceeded the total length of AE 370-172.

With the win, the reigning league co-champion Pirates improved to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the NWC.

Bluffton remains tied for first place in the league with fellow unbeaten Columbus Grove (9-0, 6-0 NWC). The two rivals will face off next Friday at Harmon Field to determine the league champion.

Meanwhile, the Mustangs fell to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the NWC following the loss.

Bluffton scored three touchdowns in the first quarter.

Pirates signalman Tayte Giesige opened the scoring with a 13-yard TD run with nine minutes left in the first period.

Senior defensive back Landen Worcester capped a 53-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard scoring run for a 12-0 lead after five minutes. Jackson Brauen’s extra point kick gave the Pirates a 13-0 lead.

A Worcester sack thwarted the ensuing AE attack, and he then made a long run to the Mustang 36.

Noah Bricker punctuated the 62-yard march with a 17-yard TD run. The PAT attempt was again blocked by Jacob Pinks to keep the lead at 20-0 after one period.

AE put together his first good drive at the start of the second stanza. They crossed midfield, but a loss dropped them to fourth and nearing the 50. On a fake punt run, the Mustangs came up just a few inches short after a measurement.

Bluffton took over at the AE 49. On the first play, a long Giesige pass to Quinn Eachus gained 34 yards inside the AE 15. Two runs brought third down and one made the Mustang six.

Parker Lovell was stopped for a short loss. On fourth-and-2, Lovell scored on a seven-yard run with just 6:51 left in the first half. Brauen’s extra point was deflected, leaving the score at 26-0.

AE started at their own 36 after the ensuing kickoff return. On fourth-and-short, the Mustangs were again stuffed with a run attempt at their own 46.

A short swing pass to Noah Bricker gained 22 yards. Griffin Stackhouse faked out the AE defender and scored on a 24-yard pass from Giesige.

Brauen’s extra point kick with 3:59 left in the second stanza increased the lead to 33-0.

A Bricker tackle caused a loss of five yards from scrimmage on the next AE run at its own 32 yards. On third-and-13 yards, a holding penalty and a short gain forced a punt.

Eachus returned the ensuing punt to the Pirate 37 with less than two minutes left in the half. A 20-yard pass entered AE territory at the 43rd line. A throw to Bricker brought the ball to the Mustang 32nd line.

AE made a near-interception, followed by an 11-yard pass. On third-and-15, Eachus caught a pass and scored – but it was negated by a holding penalty.

On third-and-25 from 26, an 11-yard pass required a 32-yard field goal attempt. After AE was sent off for offside, the brow kick from 27 meters away with 7.1 seconds left ripped through the middle of the goal post.

Bluffton led 36-0 at halftime. The second half began with the clock running.

After a scoreless third quarter, Lovell scored on a 16-yard run with 8:27 to play. The Brew PAT kick extended the lead to 43-0.

AE avoided a shutout when Miles McDorman scored on a 12-yard run with 4:57 left.

1 2 3 4 F

Bluf 20 16 0 7 43

AE 0 0 0 7 7

Notes and statistics

Bluffton totaled 370 yards on offense in 52 games (7.1 yards average). The Mustangs gained 172 yards on 37 snaps (4.6 average) against the swarming Pirates defense.

The Pirates rolled up 182 rushing yards and passed for another 188 yards. The big Bluffton offense averaged 6.3 yards per rush on 29 carries.

AE managed 96 yards on the ground against the strong Pirate defense. The Mustangs racked up 76 yards through the air by completing seven of zero attempts.

The Pirates recorded 21 first downs while AE moved the chains seven times.

Lovell led the game on the ground with 56 yards and two scores on eight carries. He added a catch for 17 yards.

Senior Worcester rushed for 42 yards on seven carries and touchdowns on seven carries. He added a catch for 11 yards.

Senior Stackhouse had 11 yards on four carries. He caught two passes for 44 yards and a TD. with scores.

Giesige ran for 46 yards and a touchdown on four carries. He completed 10 of 17 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions.

Bricker rushed for 30 yards on two runs for a score. He also caught three passes for 57 yards.

Eachus caught three balls for 59 yards.

Worcester was involved in eight tackles, including two sacks. Bricker contributed two assists and two solo stops. Carson Kruse had a hand in eight tackles, including seven assists.

Mason Shank added a sack. Gabe Meza hit once for 34 yards.

The Pirates committed eight penalties for 57 yards, while AE was sacked four times for 32 yards.

Bluffton was successful on two of six third-down attempts and took a 1-2 lead on fourth down. Meanwhile, the Mustangs converted 2-8 attempts on third down and took an 0-1 lead on fourth down.

Neither team lost the ball.

The Pirates have outscored their opponents by a commanding margin of 424-59 (47.1 ppg to 6.6 ppg) in nine games this season.

With the win, Bluffton remains second in the Div. VI, Region 22 computer rankings. They trail only first-place Hopewell-Loudon (8-0). Patrick Henry (7-2) is third.

The Pirates host Friday’s showdown at Grove.

In the most anticipated league game of the season, Bluffton hosts undefeated rival Columbus Grove to determine the final NWC title.

The Bulldogs are 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the league after a narrow 28-20 win over LCC on Friday.

Bluffton is 4-0 at home while CG is 4-0 on the road. The Pirates have won 14 NWC titles while Grove has won 16.

Grove is first in the Div. VII, Region 26 ranking. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 399-107 in nine games, averaging margins of 44.3 to 11.9 ppg.

The Pirates have won 17 of their last 18 regular season contests and have been victorious in 20 of their last 22 games. Both losses in that span came against Grove last season.

CG won the 2023 Week 10 bout at home 14-7 to secure a share of the NWC title. The Bulldogs then defeated the Pirates 17-10 in the hard-fought Region 22 playoff final.