By: Colton Steiner

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University football team hosted the Mount St. Joseph Lions on Alumni Field in a perfect fall afternoon for college football on Saturday, Oct. 18. Bluffton came in with a 2-0 conference record, but the Lions spoiled the afternoon, scoring four straight touchdowns before the Bluffton could get on the board. Despite a late touchdown from the hosts, it was too little, too late, as the Lions snapped the Beavers 3-game winning streak with a convincing 35-7 victory, dropping to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the HCAC. With the win, Mount St. Joseph improves to 3-3 on the season and 2-1 in conference play.

The Lions received the ball to start the contest and drove down the field in just over seven minutes, capping off the 13-play drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. The Beavers would have a field goal attempt from 40 yards out blocked, as they finished the first quarter down 7-0 despite a 60-yard run for Jamarrion Banks (Garfield Heights).

At the 12:42 mark of the second quarter, Mount St. Joseph would add a 34-yard score after a short pass would turn into a touchdown and a 14-0 lead heading into the break. Following the Beavers opening drive that ended in no points, the Lions would take their opening driving of the half 50 yards with a 18-yard strike that put Bluffton behind 21-0. The third quarter would finish with neither team putting any more points on the board, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, the visitors would get a 4-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead to 28-0.

The Beavers would then pound the ground game on the next drive, finally breaking the goal line after Jamarrion Banks would scamper and get Bluffton's first score of the contest with a 4-yard rush, making it 28-7 with seven minutes left in regulation. Mount St. Joseph would strike one last time, with their fourth passing touchdown of the day en route to its 35-7 victory.

Despite netting only 104 yards through the air, the Beavers finished with a 189-174 advantage in total rushing yards. The Lions edged out the home team in total yards with a 358-294 advantage. Three Bluffton backs would see action. Damien Brockington (Tiffin/Columbian) led the way with 11 carries that went for a team-high 89 yards. Banks was right behind him with 82 yards on six rushes, including the Beavers lone score of the day. Jaivon Hudson (Bedford) add 43 rushing yards, while also leading the team in receiving yards with 32 on Saturday. 

Defensively for Bluffton, they were led by Mason Brandon (Louisville, Ky./Meade County) with seven total tackles. Jaydon McBreen (Portland, Ore./Westview) and Aaron Carmack-Lovett (Toledo/St. John's Jesuit) each tallied six total tackles, including five solo stops apiece. The Beavers recorded four total tackles for loss, with Gabriel Cavazos (Otsego, Mich.) getting the lone sack of the day. 

Bluffton will look to bounce back from the loss and put it behind them as the Beavers get ready to hit the road for Rose-Hulman next Saturday, Oct. 25, with kickoff at 1:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-