Bluffton defenders converge on Crestview’s Beau Eggleston during Friday night’s game at Bluffton.
Jessica Trinko | The Lima News
BLUFFTON — Friday night looked like a showdown of the Northwest Conference’s top two offenses, Crestview and Bluffton.
Perhaps people should’ve been talking about Bluffton’s defense. The league’s best defense statistically kept the Knights off-balance all night, as Bluffton won its homecoming game 21-0 at Harmon Field and recorded its fifth shutout in a row.
“It just keeps that confidence going,” said Noah Bricker, a junior linebacker in the Pirates’ 3-4 alignment. “I mean, they were the highest-scoring in the NWC. We expected it to be a high-scoring game, but defense came out and we shut out today.”
Bluffton (7-0, 4-0 NWC) is now tied atop the league standings with Columbus Grove, which beat Leipsic on Friday to unknot a four-way tie for first. The Pirates limited the offense for the Knights (5-2, 3-1 NWC) to 268 total yards, or 130 below its season average.
“Both of us have pretty high-scoring offenses,” said Crestview coach Cole Harting. “Really, the defense showed tonight. Credit to them, they played amazing on defense. They put us in some really difficult positions.”
Bluffton coach Jeff Richards added, “I expected it to be a little bit of a shootout more than anything.”
The Pirates wore camoflauged jerseys as part of the Ohio Army National Guard program recognizing veterans. It seemed appropriate for a team playing such intense defense.
Bluffton, ranked No. 6 in DIvision VI in last week’s statewide poll, had two interceptions, including a first-quarter pick by Brody Anderson. As Crestview QB Bryson Penix faced immense pressure on third-and-17 from Bluffton’s 45, he heaved the ball downfield, and Anderson pulled the ball down at the 6 to ground the Knights’ scoring threat and pick up his first varsity interception.
“I laid out for it, and it just fell right into my hands,” Anderson said. “I was so excited. It was a really great feeling.”
The defense also picked up an interception at the end of the game to preserve the shutout, when linebacker Gavin Bogart intercepted the ball at the 17 with less than a minute remaining and returned it 20 yards, ending Crestview’s deepest offensive threat.
Offensively, after struggling to move the ball most of the first half, something clicked for Bluffton late in the second quarter. Landen Worcester got things rolling with a 27-yard rush to put the team into Crestview territory for only the second time all game. Two plays later, quarterback Garret Bogart found Braeden Jordan open in the back right corner of the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Pirates a 7-0 lead with 1:18 left in the half.
The Pirates continued that momentum at the start of the third quarter. Griffin Stackhouse gave the team great field position after returning the kickoff to Crestview’s 49. A few plays later, Stackhouse caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Garret Bogart.
“At the beginning of the season, there were a lot of people who doubted us,” Stackhouse said. “We just kind of keep working.”
Worcester, who surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in the fourth quarter, finished with 34 carries for 205 yards, including a fourth-quarter touchdown from a yard out.
Bluffton’s Garret Bogart completed 5 of 8 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns, with Jordan leading the receiving corps with two catches for 39 yards.
Crestview’s Penix completed 17 of 30 passes for 178 yards, with two interceptions. His top receiver was Hunter Jones, who had nine catches for 103 yards.
“They pushed us all game,” Bluffton’s Richards said. “It was one of those bend, don’t break as much as we could. Our defensive players did a phenomenal job the whole game.”
Bluffton welcomes Leipsic (6-1) next weekend. Crestview travels to Columbus Grove (5-2).
Game summary
Crestview Bluffton
15 First downs 18
268 Total yards 320
90 Rushing yards 231
178 Passing yardage 89
17-30-2 Passing 5-8-0
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
6-39.7 Punts 4-42.3
8-70 Penalties 5-49
Score by quarters:
Crestview 0 0 0 0 — 0
Bluffton 0 7 7 7 — 21
Second quarter
B-Braeden Jordan 29 pass from Garret Bogart (Kyle Basil kick), 1:18
Third quarter
B-Griffin Stackhouse 15 pass from Garret Bogart (Kyle Basil kick), 8:19
Fourth quarter
B-Landon Worcester 1 run (Kyle Basil kick), 3:52
David Trinko wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
