BC hopes to rebound with HCAC, homecoming victory
Anderson University (1-4 overall, 1-1 HCAC)
It's homecoming Saturday at Bluffton College, and the Beavers would like nothing more than to highlight the weekend with a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Anderson University. BC has dropped their last two games, which unfortunately were both HCAC contests against Hanover and Wabash, both of which are undefeated in the HCAC. The Beavers are 3-2 now overall.
The Ravens of Anderson University enter Salzman Stadium Saturday coming off a 14-11 victory over Mount St. Joseph for their first HCAC victory. On October 2 AU was defeated 30-13 by the same Wabash team that beat Bluffton last week 27-7, so the Ravens have played some quality opponents and have shown they can play well.
The Ravens and Beavers have met 24 times on the gridiron, with Bluffton holding a 14-10 lead in the all-time series. The two schools met every season from 1973 through 1991, then met again last season in Anderson as BC took home a 41-7 victory. AU won seven straight contests over BC from 1978-1984, but the Beavers have dominated the series since then, winning all eight matchups.
Entering last Saturday's action at Wabash, quarterback Joel Parrett was ranked first in the country in completion percentage and third in efficiency. The senior third-year starter surpassed Elbert Dubenion '59 on the BC all-time total offense list last week, and now has 4,942 yards in his career. He needs 672 yards to catch Cliff Hemmert '89. Parrett also needs 238 yards to catch Hemmert for second place on the passing yardage list, and needs three more TD passes to tie Darrin Fox '97 for second place in TD passes with 36.
Junior running back Tyson Goings has been slowed down of late and entered last week's game ranked 20th in the country in rushing yards per game. He is currently 10th on the BC all-time rushing yardage list, and needs 315 yards to catch Roger Gilanyi '89.
Senior Eric Metz is five catches away from catching Andy Nowlin '91 for second place on the all-time receptions list with 138. Last week Metz surpassed Tory Strock '97 in receiving yards, as his total of 2,164 is second all-time to the 2,617 yards by Nowlin. Metz also surpassed one of BC's radio analysts, Vance Nofziger '95, last week in career punt returns with 38, and already leads in punt return yardage with 380. Senior Jarret Smotrila needs three interceptions to tie Doug Marquart '80 on the all-time interception list with 16, while Smotrila already leads in interception return yardage with 191.
Anderson University Quick Facts:
Location: Anderson, Indiana1999 Anderson University schedule and results
Sept. 4 THOMAS MORE (KY) L 32-18Bluffton/Anderson Scores since 1983
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Current Standings
|
HCAC |
Overall |
|||||
|
Team |
W |
L |
W |
L |
October 16th in the HCAC: Anderson at Bluffton Franklin at Mount St. Joseph Wilmington at Hanover Wabash at Manchester |
|
|
Wabash |
3 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
||
|
Hanover |
2 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
||
|
Wilmington |
2 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
||
|
Anderson |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
||
|
Franklin |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
||
|
Bluffton |
0 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
||
|
Manchester |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
||
|
Mt. St. Joseph |
0 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
||
What BC Opponents Are Doing
(1999 overall record, last week's results, today's opponent)
Bethany (1-5) lost to U. of Chicago 12-0, is at Washington & Jefferson today.