BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University football team dropped a 42-20 decision to Albion College on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Bluffton pulled within 28-20 early in the second half, but the Britons put it on ice with two scores as they improved to 2-0 on the season. The Beavers slipped to 1-1 following a pair of home night games at Alumni Field.
Albion took the opening kickoff 80 yards to the Bluffton 16 and then needed just one play and 24 seconds to take a 7-0 lead, but the Beavers were undaunted and they made it 7-6 following a flea flicker that caught the Britons sleeping. Xavier Reyero (Corona, Cal./Corona) took the pitch back and found Chris Mclaurin (Bolton, Miss./Clinton) wide open for a 21-yard scoring toss midway through the opening stanza.
Two straight scoring drives for the visitors made it 21-6 with 10:15 to play in quarter two. Again, Bluffton responded with a 41-yard touchdown toss from Reyero to Niegel Payne (Detroit, Mich./River Rouge) on the first play after a sack and forced fumble by Marvus McWright (Westland, MI/Lee M Thurston). A 10-play, 69-yard scoring drive from Albion made it 28-12 Britons at the break.
A 56-yard connection from Reyero to Kainan Stoner (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) set up an 8-yard strike to Ethan Beringer (Findlay/Carey) and the Beavers were in business, down just 28-20 when Reyero hit Payne for the two-point conversion less than two minutes into the second half!
The visitors from Michigan just kept coming though and their ground game proved too much on Saturday night. Albion punched it in two more times on the way to a 22-point victory over the home team.
Albion moved the chains 29 times thanks to 10-of-18 on third down opportunities and four more fourth down pickups. The Britons finished with 500 yards of offense, compared to a solid 348 for the Beavers. The visitors were outstanding on the ground, piling up 225 yards which helped them to a nearly 10-minute edge in time of possession.
Reyero finished with 15 completions for 294 yards and three more touchdowns, giving him 10 through two games. Stoner carried it 17 times for 49 yards and his 56-yard reception gave him 105 yards from scrimmage. Beringer caught five balls for 56 yards and a touchdown. Kale Lee (Spencerville) chalked up 47 receiving yards on three catches. Payne chipped in with two receptions for 46 yards.
Nick Perry (Northwood/Lake) led the defense with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery. Dominic Barry (Brooklyn) wrapped up six stops and Toddrick Downer (Detroit, Mich./DLA) finished with five tackles, all of the solo variety.
Bluffton will hit the road for the first time next Saturday, Sept. 16, when the Beavers travel to Adrian College for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
-BEAVERS-
