November 4, 2017
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University football team played its final 2017 home game against the Earlham College Quakers, and for the 21 seniors, it was their last time ever playing on Alumni Field. A quick start by the Beavers was key and they never looked back, marching to a 65-21 win, which established a new Bluffton University record for points in a game. The win moved the Beavers to 3-6 overall and 3-4 in Heartland Conference play.
Bluffton jumped on top just five seconds in as Ollie Moorer (Warrensville Hts.) forced a Quaker safety to go up 2-0 following an intentional grounding in the end zone on Earlham's first play from scrimmage. After receiving the free kick, the Beavers would go down and score a touchdown off a CAIDEN DICKE (Lima/Perry) 2-yard run. With a 9-0 advantage, the Beavers would score again when KEYON CAMDEN (Wayne/Elmwood) reached across the goal line after hauling in a 10-yard catch. The home team would score one more time before the end of the first quarter to go up 23-0 thanks to a three-yard plunge by freshman Darian Greeley (Mt. Clemens, Mich./Chippewa Valley) one play after he broke off a 55-yard carry!
Earlham cashed in with its first points of the game at the 11:03 mark of the second quarter after a 17-yard touchdown pass which made it 23-7. MICAH ROBERSON (Ada) would haul in his sixth touchdown of the season as BRANDON KOCH (West Harrison, Ind./East Central) found the senior in stride for a 33-yard score. After a Quaker touchdown, the Beavers would score two more times for a commanding 44-14 spread at the break.
The Beavers made it 51-14 with 7:20 left in the third quarter off a PLUMMIE GARDNER (Lima/Perry) 11-yard scamper up the middle. Bluffton freshman standout Darian Greeley was a freight train, going 86 yards for a touchdown and 58-14 lead. The play that set the record for most points in a game would come off a 7-yard pick-six by ISAAC ZICKAFOOSE (Middlebury, Ind./Northridge), pushing the spread to 65-14. Earlham found the end zone one more time as the Beavers celebrated their final home game of 2017 with a 65-21 victory.
Brandon Koch would have a heyday from under center as the junior connected on 21-of-25 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. Darian Greeley led the charge on the ground, rushing for 175 yards on only 12 carries with two scores. In the final home game of his career, Micah Roberson hauled in a game-high 10 receptions for 136 yards and a score. Roberson has a total of 74 receptions on the season to go with his 864 yards receiving. The Bluffton offense was explosive as they totaled 578 yards, including 263 on the ground.
On the defensive side of the football, the Beavers were led by DYLAN SHAFFER (Shelby) who tallied six tackles on the afternoon. Ollie Moorer racked up two sacks along with a pass breakup. Collecting two tackles for loss along with his interception for a touchdown was Isaac Zickafoose. The Bluffton defense was all over the Quaker backfield as they made nine tackles for loss and pressured the quarterback eight times.
The Beavers will close out their 2017 season when they travel to rival Defiance next Saturday, Nov. 11, to battle for the Hammer with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-