GAMBIER, Ohio - The Bluffton University football team traveled to Kenyon College on Saturday, Sept. 7, but the Beavers came up just short in a season-opening 13-6 loss. Bluffton starts 0-1, while Kenyon is 1-0 heading into week two.

Senior Kainan Stoner (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) put the exclamation point on an 18-play, 99-yard drive that used up over seven minutes off the clock in the first quarter. He went in from three yards out for a 6-0 lead with 3:57 on the clock.

Kenyon knotted it with a pair of second quarter field goals and the home team found the end zone with less than a minute to play in the first half, making it 13-6 at the break. The offenses were unable to get anything going in final two quarters as Kenyon avenged a 51-35 loss to the Beavers in the 2023 lidlifter.

Stoner needed 25 yards to eclipse 1,500 for his career and that was no problem as he went for 83 on 24 carries with Bluffton's lone score. He is just the 20th runner in Bluffton history to cross that barrier!

Sophomore Donovan Brazley (Atlanta, Ga./Creekside Christian) finished 14-of-23 for 84 yards passing. Ethan Beringer (Findlay/Carey) caught five balls for 43 yards, while Niegel Payne (Detroit, Mich./River Rouge) added eight catches and 37 yards receiving.

Nick Perry (Northwood/Lake) led the defense with seven tackles, including four solos. Zach Rhynes (Toledo/Start), Mason Brandon (Louisville, Ky./Meade County) and Nolan Whobrey (Louisville, Ky./Meade Count) added six stops apiece.

The Bluffton defense held Kenyon to 252 total yards, including only 73 on the ground, but the visitors finished with just 201 yards of total offense. The Beavers struggled with 4-of-14 conversions on third down, but they helped the cause with four more pickups on fourth down. The time of possession was nearly even at 30:37-29:43 in favor of Bluffton and both teams moved the chains 17 times.

Bluffton is back on the road next Saturday, Sept. 14, when the Beavers head to Albion College for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Britons.

-BEAVERS-