By: Evan Skilliter, sports information assistant
Nov. 2, 2013

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Beavers welcomed Anderson University to Salzman Stadium for an HCAC match-up on Saturday, Nov. 2, seeking their second win on the season. Junior Eric Fox (Brunswick) did his best to ensure a Beaver victory as he rumbled for 161 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries while adding 30 yards on seven receptions to help the Beavers top the Ravens 28-0 on a cold and rainy Saturday in Bluffton. AU fell to 0-8 overall and 0-6 in the Heartland Conference, while Bluffton improved to 2-6 (2-4 HCAC).

Freshman quarterback Conner Sheehan (Monroeville Ind./Heritage) hooked up with senior standout Shawn Frost (Edison/Mt. Gilead) through the air for the Beavers' first and second scores of the game. The first came at the 5:05 mark in the first quarter on a 29-yard completion and the second came just 1:22 from halftime on a five yarder, helping the Beavers open up a 14-0 lead at the break.

Freshman Dante Carroll (Gahanna/Lincoln) opened the scoring in the second half with the first touchdown catch of his career after hauling in a Sheehan pass, breaking a few tackles and cutting across the field from 49 yards out, pushing the Beavers advantage to 21-0.

Five minutes later, Fox capped the scoring after finding himself on his feet in the end zone after an impressive leap over two defenders at the goal line. Zach Rader (Van Buren) converted his third extra point of the day to cap the impressive 28-0 rout.

The Beaver defense was able to keep the Ravens out of the end zone, completing the first shutout of the season. Bluffton defenders ended the day with five sacks and 11 total tackles-for-loss, holding the Ravens to a meager 157 yards of total offense. Josh Runda (Lima/Bath) spearheaded the Bluffton defense with eight tackles while sophomore Ryan Aelker (New Bavaria/Holgate) finished with four tackles, including two sacks and three total tackles-for-loss to go along with a quarterback-hurry.

Junior Wyatt Herman (Edgerton) tallied six tackles and an interception while freshman Linkoln LaRoche (Dola/Hardin Northern) took advantage of his most work of the season, finishing with four tackles, a TFL and a forced fumble. Senior Jon Dixon (Detroit, Mich./Harper Woods) tallied two sacks while Craig Miller (Plymouth) and Delano Whidbee (Flint Mich./Flint Northern) both added second-half pickoffs.

Sheehan finished the day 19-of-33 through the air for 212 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Frost caught five of those passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, Carroll hauled in three for 55 yards and Donovan Brown (Cincinnati/Purcell Marion) added one for 23 yards. The Bluffton offense put up 391 total yards and was a superb 9-of-15 on third down opportunities while controlling the clock for nearly 36 minutes.

The Beavers (2-6, 2-4) will be back in action next week when they host HCAC leader Franklin College (6-2, 6-0 HCAC) at 1:30 p.m. in Salzman Stadium.

-BEAVERS-