By: Evan Skilliter, sports information assistant
Oct. 5, 2013
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University football team traveled to North Manchester, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 5, to take on the Spartans of Manchester University. Manchester's defense proved too much for the visitors, only allowing one touchdown on the day, a 12-yard scoring strike from junior Nick Sheehan (Monroeville, Ind./Heritage) to senior tight end Drake Harrington (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield), en route to the 34-7 Spartan victory.
Sheehan finished the day with 10 completions on 18 attempts for 146 yards and a touchdown before exiting with an injury late in the first half. 2012 HCAC Freshman of the Year Calib Alexander (Ocala, Fla./St. John Lutheran) finished as Bluffton's top receiver, catching three passes for 100 yards. Harrington and Donovan Brown (Cincinnati/Purcell Marian) also pulled in three passes each for 27 and 25 yards, respectively. Senior Shawn Frost (Edison/Mt. Gilead) caught six balls for 25 yards.
Alexander and Eric Fox (Brunswick) led the Beaver rushing attack, each tallying seven carries for 28 yards. Freshman Conner Sheehan (Monroeville, Ind./Heritage) completed 9-of-24 passes in relief of his older brother Nick. Four Bluffton turnovers aided a Spartan squad that went for 253 yards on the ground while controlling the ball for nearly 37 minutes.
Josh Runda (Lima/Bath) led the Bluffton defense with 12 tackles, including eight solos. Junior Wyatt Herman (Edgerton) added a career-best 11 stops, including 10 solos and a forced fumble, while Josh Hadley (Harper Woods, Mich./Harper Woods) tallied five tackles and an interception.
Bluffton will be back in action next Saturday, Oct. 12, in the 2013 Homecoming contest with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Kickoff in Salzman Stadium is slated for 1:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-