By Ben Risinger, SID
September 27, 2003

BLUFFTON, OHIO - Bluffton College (2-1, 0-0) did things right on Saturday as they downed Husson College 36-6. The win puts the Beavers at 1-1 at home for the season. Leading the way for Bluffton was sophomore quarterback Jared Owens (Van Wert/Crestview) who rushed for three touchdowns on the day. Owens went 11 for 16 in the air for 152 yards and threw one touchdown pass to Mark Gable. On the ground he had 11 rushes for 72 yards.

"I think he's (Owens) showing a lot of poise on the field for a first year quarterback," coach Greg Brooks said. "He's just going to get better and better."

The Beavers led the game both on the ground and in the air on Saturday. Bluffton posted 237 yards rushing compared to Husson's 95. In passing statistics were more even with the Beavers throwing 152 yards in the air compared to 141 for the Braves.

Bluffton's other scores were from sophomore Ben Dodds (West Liberty/Bellefontaine) with a 1 yard run and junior Mark Gable (Alvordton/Hilltop). Gable caught a 22 yard pass from Jared Owens for a touchdown.   Kicker Matt Cooper (Bucyrus/Wynford) had a 27 yard field goal to round of the Beaver scoring.    "Mark Gable played and did a great job out there today," Brooks said.

Bluffton's receiving corps was led by Gable with four catches for 59 yards and one touchdown for the game. Chris Sommers (Delphos/Jefferson) led the Bluffton defense attack again for the third straight week with 13 tackles on the day (four solo). Pat Craun (Sidney/Sidney) posted nine tackles, one TFL, and one sack for the Beavers.

"The defense did a good job of keeping them out of the end zone," Brooks said. "He (Sommers) anchors the defense. Whether a team's running or throwing he's always around the ball."

The game seemed as if the Bluffton might get a shutout win as Husson went scoreless until late in the third quarter with 4:47 left when Braves receiver Bryan Lancaster found a seven yard pass from quarterback Lee St. Hilaire for their lone score. The two-point conversion by Husson then failed to give them their six points on the day.

"I thought we got a little better out there today," Brooks said. "We played a little more error free and that's what we are striving to do."

Bluffton will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Urbana. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The next Beaver home game will be on October 11 when they open the conference schedule against HCAC foe Anderson. Kickoff for the Anderson game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-