Columbus Grove’s Zane Stechschulte goes airborne on a pass reception as Bluffton defenders Quinn Eachus, left, and Hayden Dearth take him down Friday in the Division VI regional final at Findlay.
Jessica Trinko | The Lima News
FINDLAY — The sequel isn’t usually better than the original when it comes to movies.
It certainly was Friday night when Columbus Grove and Bluffton battled on the gridiron for the second time this year, with the Bulldogs holding on for a 17-10 victory in the Division VI, Region 22 final that sent them to the state semifinals for the second year in a row and sixth time overall.
Grove also had a 14-7 win that clinched the Northwest Conference title in the final week of the season.
“We beat them earlier, and we kept on getting doubted, like we still weren’t the best team. We showed it this time that we’re the best in the Northwest,” said Kyle Lathrop, a Columbus Grove offensive and defensive lineman who had a key sack that ended one Bluffton fourth-quarter drive.
Columbus Grove (12-2) faces Versailles (12-2), which topped Anna, 41-14, to set up the state semifinal matchup at 7 p.m. Friday at Wapakoneta.
It wasn’t easy, though.
Bluffton battled back from a 17-3 halftime deficit and had the ball on Columbus Grove’s side of the field twice in the fourth quarter. The Pirates, who ended the season as 12-2, looked to have all the momentum after quarterback Garret Bogart’s 1-yard touchdown run with 9:28 left in the game. They followed that up with Hayden Dearth blocking a punt with 5:30 remaining in the game to set themselves up at Grove’s 35.
“We played our style of football in the second half,” Bluffton coach Jeff Richards said. “… We started moving the ball and were able to do some things. It just wasn’t enough.”
That drive ended after just one first down, though, as Lathrop delivered a sack that set up a fourth-and-19 at the 32, which ended up being an incomplete pass.
Bluffton had one last chance after forcing a Grove three-and-out, getting the ball with 2:28 to go in the game. Three-straight incomplete passes ended the Pirates’ threat, as Columbus Grove’s defense held up.
“Honestly, shame on myself, I think I felt too comfortable,” Columbus Grove coach Andy Schafer said. “I thought we had it. I’ll be honest. Credit to Bluffton. They came out the second half and fought.”
Columbus Grove had all of its scoring in the first half, building a 17-0 lead. Trenton Barraza had 102 of his 123 rushing yards in the first half, including touchdown runs of 16 and 13 yards. Kicker Evan Verhoff added a 34-yard field goal.
Columbus Grove held a 310-233 total yards advantage, but the Bulldogs only generated 103 of those yards in the second half. While Bluffton could move the ball downfield, the Bulldogs kept them from scoring, including a leaping interception by Zach Reynolds, who Schafer said “seemed like he jumped 12 feet in the air.”
“That’s all coaching. Coach saw the doubles on that side,” Reynolds said. “He told me to get back, and he told me to get back and I did. The ball just came to me.”
Columbus Grove quarterback Landon best had 16 carries for 81 yards to go with his 7-of-10 night of passing for 112 yards. Reynolds had four catches for 48 yards, while Barraza had two catches for 46 yards.
Bluffton had six different players combine for 133 rushing yards, led by Dearth’s 39 yards on three carries, mostly on effective jet sweeps. Quarterback Garret Bogart completed 12 of 28 passes for 112 yards but two interceptions. His favorite target was Braeden Jordan, who had six catches for 63 yards.
Now the Bulldogs are getting back to the regional championship for the second year in a row.
“We talked about how every regional championship we went to, that we won,” Reynolds said. “We weren’t going to be the group to end that.”
Columbus Grove 17, Bluffton 10
Bluffton Columbus Grove
18 First downs 15
233 Total yards 310
133 Rushing yards 204
112 Passing yardage 112
12-28-2 Passing 7-10-1
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
4-33.0 Punts 3-37.7
4-31 Penalties 5-45
Score by quarters:
Bluffton 0 3 0 7 — 10
Columbus Grove 3 14 0 0 — 17
First quarter
CG-Evan Verhoff 33 FG, 7:24
Second quarter
CG-Trenton Barraza 16 run (Evan Verhoff kick), 8:24
CG-Trenton Barraza 13 run (Evan Verhoff kick), 2:41
B-Kyle Basil 35 FG, 0:07
Fourth quarter
B-Garret Bogart 1 run (Kyle Basil kick), 9:28
Reach David Trinko at 567-242-0467 or on Twitter @Lima_Trinko.
