By: Evan Skilliter, sports information assistant
Oct. 12, 2013
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Beavers welcomed Rose-Hulman (4-2, 4-0 HCAC) to Salzman Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, for Homecoming at Bluffton. Donovan Brown (Cincinnati/Purcell Marian) dominated the RHIT secondary, racking up an incredible eight catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns to push his season total to nine touchdown grabs, marking his spot at the top of the Bluffton record book for touchdown catches in a season. It was just the fourth 200-yard receiving game in Bluffton history and the first since 1999. Unfortunately, the Beavers fell short, 34-26, despite Brown's effort.
Bluffton freshman Conner Sheehan (Monroeville Ind./Heritage) also turned in an impressive day during his first career start, replacing his older brother, Nick Sheehan (Monroeville Ind./Heritage), after he suffered an injury in last week's contest. The junior Sheehan completed 18-of-30 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns, each of which went for at least 49 yards. Sheehan's 366 yards passing place him second on the single-game passing yardage list after just one game at the top of the depth chart.
Three of those touchdowns came in the first quarter on passes of 62 and 59 yards to Brown and 72 yards to Eric Fox (Brunswick). Those scores helped push the Beavers out to a 20-7 lead after one quarter of play. Sheehan's fourth touchdown pass of the afternoon came in the third quarter when Brown snagged a 49-yarder and crossed the goal line. However, Rose-Hulman closed the game scoring 20 unanswered points en route to the 34-26 victory.
Fox finished the day as Bluffton's second leading receiver, hauling in four passes for 95 total yards and a touchdown. Senior Shawn Frost (Mt. Gilead) also caught four passes for 50 yards.
The Beavers accumulated just 70 total rushing yards on the day as Fox finished with 34 yards, C.J. Sewell (Lima/Shawnee) carried for with 27 and Calib Alexander (Ocala Fla./ St. John Lutheran) added 24 yards.
Josh Runda (Lima/Bath) continued his outstanding senior campaign, tallying a career-high 18 tackles, 13 of the solo variety and 2.5 for losses. Freshman Tyrone Wright (Orrville) amassed a career-high 13 tackles, including eight solo, while Paul Shroyer (Pataskala/Watkins Memorial) finished with eight total tackles. Jeff Parker (Bristol Ind./Northridge), Josh Hadley (Harper Woods, Mich.), Wyatt Herman (Edgerton) and Mike Shroyer (Pataskala/Watkins Memorial) finished with seven tackles apiece.
Bluffton (1-5, 1-3 HCAC) will be back in action next weekend as they travel to Hanover, Ind. The next home contest will take place on November 2 when the Beavers welcome HCAC rival Anderson University for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
-BEAVERS-