The 2023 campaign is just around the corner for the Bluffton University football team and Head Coach Matt Nardo who is embarking on his second season at the helm. Bluffton downed Manchester and Anderson in conference play and the Beavers are ready to take the next step when Kenyon College comes to town for the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 2.
Junior Kainan Stoner (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) churned out 470 yards on 139 carries in 2022, finding the end zone four times. Also back are the top two receiving threats from last season. Andre Price Jr. (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) led the Beavers with 30 receptions for 399 yards and he hauled in a pair of scoring tosses. Senior Ethan Beringer (Findlay/Carey) checked in with 23 catches for 354 yards. His six touchdowns led the team as did is 15.4 yards per reception.
Senior tackle Markus Finley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) bullied opposing defenses en route to his third straight Second Team All-Heartland Conference award. The three-year starter at left tackle helped the Beaver passing game put up 203.7 yards per game while allowing a school-record six sacks which was 7th in the country! Finley is also a standout thrower for the Bluffton University track and field team.
Karl Foster (Detroit, Mich/Denby) will anchor the defense from his rover spot. He continues to put the work in during the off-season and proof is in the pudding. His efforts in the weight room and on the practice field paid huge dividends as Foster led not only the Beavers, but the entire Heartland Conference, with 90 tackles. His team-high nine breakups placed Foster 2nd in the HCAC. The Second-Team All-HCAC selection has 125 career tackles, including 73 solos, and 11 breakups heading into his senior campaign.
Nick Perry (Northwood/Lake) was in on 58 tackles as a junior, including 40 solos, 8.5 TFL's, a pickoff, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The former All-HCAC honoree also added 2.5 sacks to his stat line. Safety Mason Brandon (Louisville, Ky./Meade County) tallied 32 tackles, while Davon Hedwood (Westland, Mich./Thurston) and Marvus McWright (Westland, Mich./Thurston) followed with 29 stops apiece apiece. Hedwood has been a fixture in the secondary, while McWright bullies offensive linemen up front.
Also back in the secondary are sophomore Alix Shorter (Ypsilanti, Mich./Bellville) and senior Martez Nabors (Redord, Mich./Thurston) who chipped in with 18 and 15 tackles, respectively. Sophomore Nolan Whobrey (Louisville, Ky./Meade County) followed with 14 tackles, adding to Bluffton's depth in the back end. Senior Malik Echols (Cincinnati/Mount Healthy) was also in on 14 tackles, giving the Beavers returning experience on the defensive line.
Bluffton will kick off its fall slate with a home contest against Kenyon, the first of two straight home night games before a trip to Adrian. Bluffton travels to Franklin College for the HCAC lidlifter two weeks later, kicking off seven straight Heartland Conference contests. The Beavers cap off their home slate with MSJ on November 4 before traveling to rival Defiance for the 2023 finale a week later.