When: Saturday, October 20, 2007, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Bluffton, Ohio - Salzman Stadium
On the Radio: Listen live to Bluffton University football on WDOH 107.1 FM.
Bluffton University (0-6, 0-3 HCAC) hosts Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Anderson University (1-5, 0-3 HCAC) in its 2007 Homecoming contest following consecutive HCAC road battles the past two weeks.
Greg Brooks is currently in his fifth year as the head coach of the Bluffton University football team. The Beavers have put together a 13-33 mark during Brooks’ tenure at the helm. He previously served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Bluffton, leading the Beavers to their best offensive seasons in school history.
Jeff Judge is also in his fifth season as the Anderson head football coach. During his first four seasons with the Ravens, Judge guided the team to a 19-21 overall record, including a 12-13 mark in the HCAC. Before coming to Anderson, he was the offensive coordinator (2001-02) and defensive coordinator (2000) at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.
Today marks the 33rd meeting between these two Heartland Conference schools. Bluffton holds an 18-14 edge in the all-time series. The Ravens have claimed victories in four of the six previous meetings, but Bluffton has one two of the last three, including a 26-11 decision at Anderson a year ago.
A pair of Greg Mason (Cleveland/Collinwood) touchdown carries sparked the Bluffton University football team, but two Rose-Hulman interceptions proved to be the difference as the Engineers held on for a 21-14 victory over the Beavers on Saturday, October 13, 2007. Bluffton fell to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in Heartland Conference action while RHIT improved to 5-2 with a 2-2 mark in the HCAC.
On the Beavers second possession of the game, Steve Hawkins picked off Kyle Coleman (Etna/Watkins Memorial) and returned it 42 yards to put Rose up 7-0 with over 10 minutes to play in quarter one.
The Beavers refused to hang their heads and they were rewarded with one of their best drives of the season which knotted the score at seven. A steady dose of Cameron Campeau (Pfafftown, N.C.) on the ground along with a 22-yard Coleman to Mike Brown (North Wales, Penn./Calvary Christian Academy) completion set up Mason's first score of the year, an 11-yard scamper into the end zone.
To open the second half, the Engineers fashioned a 13-play, 70-yard drive that Tyler Thornton capped with a four-yard touchdown run. RHIT moved the chains five times thanks to a Bryan Wong led rushing attack that was efficient and time consuming as the Engineers used up 6:23 off the game clock.
Bluffton went back to Campeau on the ground and short Coleman passes on its ensuing possession before the Engineers forced a Bluffton fumble with the Beavers only five yards from cutting the deficit in half. Rose recovered with 3:27 to play in the third quarter, but the Bluffton defense stuffed the Engineers and forced a punt from the home 10-yard line.
A poor RHIT punt gave Bluffton the ball on the home 29 after Lovelace's six yard return. Coleman found Brown for a 12-yard completion and Mason picked up 15 yards before his two-yard scoring run made the score 21-14 in favor of the Engineers.
Bluffton had one more chance but it was unable to go the required 83 yards it needed to send the game into overtime as Rose held on for a 21-14 victory over the Beavers.
The Beavers picked up 17 first downs compared to 15 for the home squad. For the game, Rose gained 322 total yards, 165 on the ground and 157 through the air. Bluffton threw for 169 yards and rushed for 98. Both teams struggled on third down as Bluffton converted on 2-of-10 opportunities and Rose cashed in on 4-of-14 chances. Penalties slowed Rose as the Engineers racked up eight infractions for 65 total yards while Bluffton committed only three offenses for 18 yards.
Campeau and Mason picked up 48 and 30 yards, respectively, to lead the Bluffton ground game. Coleman completed 15-of-30 passes for 169 yards, but he also threw two costly interceptions. Brown led the Bluffton receivers with three catches for 47 yards. Joel Sienicki (Goshen, Ind./Northridge) and Drew Lovelace (Trumansburg, NY/Charles U. Dickerson) also hauled in three receptions for the Beavers. Senior linebacker Sam McCullough (Bluffton/Bluffton) paced the Bluffton defense once again with 16 tackles, including 10 solos. Taylor Iceman (Lucas/Lucas) added seven stops while sophomore Brandon Herr (Bluffton/Bluffton) and freshman Mitch Dunlap (St. Mary's/St. Mary's) chipped in with six tackles each.
Defiance 34, Anderson 7
The Anderson University football team dropped its homecoming game to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Defiance College 34-7 on Saturday at Macholtz Stadium.
Senior tailback Denny Kimmel led the Ravens with 119 yards rushing and a touchdown. Kimmel also finished with 192 all-purpose yards, including 76 on kickoff returns. He also caught a pass for the 37th consecutive game.
The NCAA’s leading receiver, Luke Dillon, led the Yellow Jackets with seven catches for 174 yards and, for the second consecutive week, four touchdowns.
Brady Church was the top AU receiver with four catches for 27 yards. Quarterback Chase Thurston finished the game 8-of-16 for 36 yards and Shane Nevers was 4-of-10 for 44 yards in relief.
Jeremiah Townsell led the Raven defense with nine tackles, a sack and a blocked extra point. Zach Whickcar had nine tackles and an interception and Travon Curry added five tackles and a sack.
Defiance finished with 426 total yards, including 230 passing while AU had 228 yards, 148 of those on the ground.
Freshman tailback Cameron Campeau leads the Beavers with 176 yards rushing on 82 carries. He has also caught six passes for 47 yards. Adding to the Beavers’ ground game is sophomore Greg Mason who has picked up 137 yards. Junior quarterback Kyle Coleman has completed 44-of-102 passes for 513 yards and one touchdown. Joel Sienicki is pacing the Bluffton receivers with 19 receptions for 171 yards and one of the Beavers’ three receiving touchdowns. Mike Brown and Drew Lovelace have 13 and 12 catches, respectively, through the first six contests. They have both hauled in one touchdown reception for the Beavers.
Two-time first team All-HCAC linebacker Sam McCullough has a conference-high 85 stops, including 41 solos, three sacks, two interceptions and a blocked punt. Senior safeties Taylor Iceman, who has three interceptions on the year, and Ryan Christy (Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnet) have chipped in with 47 and 34 tackles, respectively. Kyle Rode (Delphos/Jefferson) has anchored the defensive line with 27 tackles, including six sacks for a loss of 47 yards and a fumble recovery.
Bluffton travels to Hanover College to face the Panthers on Saturday, October 27, 2007. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. Anderson University welcomes Rose-Hulman for an HCAC battle with the Ravens on Saturday, Oct. 27. Kickoff at Anderson is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
