By Ben Risinger, Sports Information Director
October 30, 2004

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University football team (4-4, 2-2 HCAC) was defeated by Mount St. Joseph (8-0, 5-0 HCAC) 25-13 on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Beavers had a good game as Bluffton scored 13 points, which is the third highest point total any team has put up against the Mount this season. The Beavers 113 yards rushing were also the most yards on the ground that the Lions had seen all year.

Bluffton got the scoring started in the contest when Ben Dodds (West Liberty/Bellefontaine) ran an 8-yard touchdown run into the endzone with 7:11 left in the first quarter. Dodds' run would be the only Beaver touchdown of the day. The Lions answered back five minutes later with a 35-yard field goal to tighten the game to 7-3. Kicker Seth Burkholder (Pandora/Bluffton) then posted two field goals in the second quarter (47, 48 yards) to widen the Beavers lead to 13-3. Less than a minute after Burkholder's second field goal, the Mount's Mike Lovell would post an 80-yard touchdown run to squeeze Bluffton's lead again. The score going into halftime was 13-10 in favor of the Beavers. The Lions came alive after a scoreless third quarter to post two touchdowns (1-yard run, 17-yard pass) and a safety in the fourth to take the contest. The final would be 25-13 in favor of Mount St. Joseph.  

Quarterback Tim Koontz (Goshen, Ind./Concord) went 6-for-17 for 71 yards in the air. Tailback Ben Dodds led the rushers with 15 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown. Senior Mark Gable (Alvordton/Hilltop) led the receivers with five catches for 66 yards. Freshman linebacker Sam McCullough (Bluffton/Bluffton) led the Beaver defense with 15 tackles (6 solo, 9 assisted).

Mount St. Joseph led the game with 371 total yards (309 rush, 62 pass) to Bluffton's 189 total yards (113 rush, 76 pass). The Lions had 20 first downs compared to Bluffton's 11. The Mount was also 3-for-4 in red zone scores, with Bluffton going 1-for-1 deep in Lion territory. Mount St. Joseph held onto the ball for 36:38 minutes to Bluffton's 23:22.

Bluffton University will be back in action next Saturday at Salzman Stadium for their 2004 home finale. The Beavers will face HCAC opponent Franklin College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

-BEAVERS-