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0-1, 0-0 HCAC |
0-1, 0-0 NCAC |
Setting the scene
Bluffton (0-1) hopes to erase the memories of a 30-17 loss at Hiram last season and a 28-27 loss at Marietta College last week in the Beavers’ first game of the season. Hiram (0-1) is coming off a 30-7 loss last week at home against Grove City College.
The series
Saturday is the seventh meeting between these two schools, with the previous six games being split evenly at three wins each. See page 37 for all-time scores in this series, which began back in the 1955 season. Hiram has a record of 1-1 in Salzman Stadium.
The coaches
Head coach Carlin Carpenter is in his 24th season at Bluffton and owns a career record of 100-119-1. He is the longest active head coach in Ohio collegiate football and he is one of four active coaches with 100 or more career wins. Hiram is led by second-year head coach Mike Meyer, who is 3-8 so far at the helm of the Terrier program.
Last meeting
At Hiram, Sept. 8, 2001: Hiram 30, Bluffton 17. Bluffton took an early 7-0 lead but Hiram came back to take a 17-10 lead at halftime. The Beavers tied the score at 17-17 on quarterback Brad Moore’s second touchdown run of the day, but Hiram took control of the game at that point as the Terriers went on back-to-back scoring drives that took over 15 minutes off the clock. Bluffton was held to a 1-for-10 performance on third down and had the ball for over 12 minutes less than Hiram.
Last week
Bluffton suffered a tough 28-27 loss at Marietta last week in their 2002 debut. The BC defense didn’t allow the Pioneers to cross midfield the entire first half as the Beavers took a 14-0 lead at halftime. Marietta, however, scored three straight touchdowns to start the second half before Bluffton regained the lead at 27-21. Marietta scored the winning touchdown with 39 seconds on the clock and BC missed a 53-yard field goal attempt as time expired. BC had a touchdown called back by a penalty, had two field goals blocked and missed an extra-point in the game.
Hiram was dealt a 30-7 loss at home by Grove City College last week as the Terriers were held to 64 yards in total offense and surrendered 471 yards to the Wolverines.
Last season in-review
Bluffton lost their first two games of the 2001 season, including a 30-17 defeat at Hiram, but eventually turned things around to win four of their last six games and finish the season with 5-5 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, good for a third place tie.
Hiram started out the 2001 campaign with a 3-2 record before dropping their last five games to finish with an overall record of 3-7 and a 1-6 record in the North Coast Athletic Conference.
