By Tim Stried, SID
October 19, 2002
Bluffton College held a 14-13 lead until late in the second quarter over 10th-ranked Hanover College, but the visiting Panther squad scored the final 26 points of the game to take a 47-21 win over the Beavers Saturday afternoon in Salzman Stadium.
Hanover improves to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, while Bluffton falls to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the HCAC. The loss was Bluffton's first of the season at home as Hanover extended their current winning streak over BC to eight straight games.
Bluffton senior quarterback Brad Moore posted career highs with 21 completions from 34 attempts for a 62% completion percentage. He totaled 232 yards through the air and a touchdown and ran for another score.
Two Hanover quarterbacks were a combined 28-for-45 passing in the game for 290 yards, which is 100 yards fewer than the Panthers were averaging going into the game.
Bluffton put together 10-play 80-yard scoring drives on both of their first two possessions. Moore capped off the first drive with a 14-yard touchdown run, then tossed a short pass to freshman tailback Ben Dodds, who rambled 18-yards to the endzone to end the second TD drive and give Bluffton a 14-7 lead.
Hanover scored two more touchdowns in the first half to take a 21-14 lead at halftime, but the Beavers began the second much like they did the first with a 12-play, 89-yard drive that junior running back Jovan Johnson ended with a one-yard touchdown run with 7:33 left in the third quarter that tied the game at 21-all.
It would be Bluffton's final score of the day, however, as their next four possessions resulted in minus 11 yards in offense, while Hanover's next four possessions all resulted in touchdowns.
Bluffton held over a seven-minute advantage in time of possession and was a perfect 3-for-3 in the red-zone, but the Beavers turned the ball over twice on interceptions, one of which was returned for a score.
Senior Cam Staley led the Bluffton defense with 11 tackles, while senior Brian Steiner and sophomore Andy Tabler both collected 10 tackles. Sophomore Matt Chiles added nine stops.
Johnson caught a career-high 10 passes for 80 yards, while junior Jimmy Dwenger totaled 89 yards on four catches. Dodds led the ground game with 53 yards rushing.
The Beavers will travel next Saturday to Mount St. Joseph, who is defeated Defiance College Saturday to improve to 3-0 in the HCAC and 4-2 overall.