By Bill Hanefeld Jr., interim sports information director
October 22, 2005
BLUFFTON, Ohio -The Bluffton University football team (3-4, 2-1 HCAC) knocked off Hanover College (3-5, 2-2) 33-19 on Saturday, October 22, 2005. The victory was the first over the Panthers since a 22-7 win in 1990.
Bluffton University traveled to Hanover College looking to end a ten game Panther victory streak over the Beavers and they did just that. Hanover turned the ball over in the red-zone on two of its first four possessions as the Beaver defense tightened each time the Panthers moved into Bluffton territory. Hanover put up 456 yards in the loss but it was a one-dimensional attack as it picked up only 78 of those on the ground. The Beavers put on an offensive display, amassing 477 total yards, including 323 rushing yards while not turning the ball over and maintaining possession for nearly 35 minutes. Bluffton scored each time it entered the red-zone and it converted on six of 11 third-down opportunities to improve to 2-1 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action.
The Beavers took a 6-0 lead with four minutes to play in the first quarter when quarterback Jared Owens (Van Wert/Crestview) went in from the one-yard line following a 75-yard run by senior tailback Ben Dodds (West Liberty/Bellefontaine). Owens found sophomore wide receiver Anthony Bryant (Reynoldsburg/Reynoldsburg) open in the middle of the field and Bryant did the rest as he scampered 67 yards for a touchdown to put Bluffton up 13-3 with less than three minutes to play in the first half. A hurried Panther field goal cut the Beaver advantage to seven points at the break.
Hanover tied the game at 13 early in the third quarter before the Beavers took over and scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions to open up a 33-13 lead with less than four minutes to play. Owens capped a clock draining 13-play, 74-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown giving the Beavers a lead they would not relinquish. Dodds found the end-zone early in the fourth quarter putting Bluffton up 27-13 following the third Hanover turnover of the day. Junior fullback Ben McCullough (Bluffton/Bluffton), who finished with 101 yards on only 16 carries, found a hole and crossed the goal-line late in the fourth quarter to give the Beavers a 33-13 advantage before Hanover threw for a touchdown to end the day's scoring with two minutes to play.
Owens completed ten of 16 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown. He also gained 86 yards on the ground and ran for two touchdowns. Dodds rushed for 138 yards and also scored a touchdown. Junior Jeremy Anderson (South Rockwood, Mi/Airport High) sparked the Beaver defense as he picked off two Panther passes deep in Bluffton territory and recorded two tackles-for-losses. Freshman Kyle Rode (Delphos/Delphos Jefferson) forced a fumble on Hanover's initial possession that senior linebacker Robert Bailey (Bellefontaine/Bellefontaine) recovered. Sophomore lineman Cody Walters (Pataskala/Licking Heights) recorded a TFL for a loss of 18 yards.
The Beavers will face off against Mount St. Joseph in an HCAC showdown at Bluffton on Saturday, October 29, 2005. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.