CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University football team fell to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the Heartland Conference following a 47-21 loss at Mount St. Joseph on Saturday, April 3, 2021. A 20-point quarter by MSJ was too much to overcome as the Lions punched in three touchdowns in the final 6:14 of the first half.

Laurenz Johnson (Huber Heights/Wayne) got the visitors on the scoreboard with an 18-yard touchdown reception from fellow freshman Darnell Thomas (Toledo/Springfield) with 5:22 to play in the opening quarter. The Beavers still led 7-6 thoughout much of the first half until MSJ erupted for 20 points late in the first 30 minutes for a 26-7 lead at the half.

Thomas made it 26-14 midway through the third quarter when he took it eight yards to the house. The two teams traded scores late in the third as freshman Kevaughn Robinson (Pickerington/North) ran it in from the six-yard line, but MSJ tacked on two scores in the fourth quarter to wrap up its 47-21 victory over an injury-riddled Bluffton team on Saturday.

Travon Mason (Erlanger, Ky./Lloyd Memorial) led the ground game with 109 yards on 11 carries, including a 49-yarder. Thomas carried it 21 times for 89 yards.

Mount St. Joseph finished with a marked 465-246 edge in total yards, including 226-35 passing. Bluffton moved the chains 4-of-14 times on third downs, compared to 6-of-10 for the Lions.

Freshman Nick Perry (Northwood/Lake) led the Beavers with nine tackles. Nolan Childress (Cleveland/Ginn Academy) was in on eight stops and Marcus Wood (Greenville) came up with a pickoff and 40-yard return.

Bluffton will return to action on Saturday, April 10, when the Beavers welcome rival Defiance College. Kickoff at Alumni Field is slated for 1:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-