BC produced 303 yards in total offense and held a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Terriers took control of the game in the second quarter to send Bluffton to an 0-2 start to the 2001 season.
Bluffton quarter back Brad Moore found the endzone on a 33 yard run with 7:49 left in the opening quarter and Adam Burgess connected on a 26 yard field goal with 5:20 left before halftime. Bluffton trailed 17-10 at the intermission and trailed by just five yards in the total yardage category (209-204), led by Moore, who completed 10 of 18 passes for 114 yards in the first half.
Bluffton appeared to be on the verge of taking control of the game early in the third quarter as the Beavers moved the football to the Hiram 21 yard line of their first drive. A fumble turned the ball over to Hiram, but BC got the ball right back as senior Jon Richardson picked off a Terrier pass and returned it nine yards to the Hiram 27 yard line, setting up another TD run by Moore, this time covering 11 yards. Burgess connected on the PAT and the score was tied at 17-17.
But it was all Hiram from there.
Led by new head coach Mike Meyer, the Terriers' next two drives resulted in touchdowns, the first spanning 17 plays and 9:01 off the clock, and the next covering 13 plays and 6:01 off the clock.
Bluffton, meanwhile, could not mount a series offensive threat, as the Beavers' next two drives didn't produce a first down. BC's final possession garnered 10 plays and 60 yards but no points.
Moore ended the day 17-29 passing for 166 yards, and for the second straight week he also led BC in rushing, totaling 60 yards on eight carriers.
Perhaps the two key statistical numbers in the game were third down conversions and time of possession. BC was just 1-10 on third down, while Hiram was 7-14 and held possession of the football for 36:19 compared to just 23:41 for Bluffton.
BC will return home next week to take on Thiel College at 1:30 p.m. in Salzman Stadium.
