When: Saturday, September 1, 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 opens its 2007 campaign with the a home contest against the Centre College Colonels who finished the 2006 season with a 5-5 mark overall, including a 2-4 record in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC).
Greg Brooks enters his fifth year as the head coach of the Bluffton University football team. The Beavers have put together a 13-27 mark during Brooks' tenure at the helm. Brooks previously served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Bluffton, leading the Beavers to their best offensive seasons in school history.
The Colonels are led by Andy Frye who has served as the head coach for the past nine seasons. A Muskingum College graduate, Frye is entering his 17th year on the Centre staff as he served as the defensive coordinator prior to assuming his role as head coach in 1998. Centre has a 52-38 record with Frye as the mentor, including an SCAC championship in 2003.
Bluffton and Centre have split their six previous meetings with the Colonels winning the last two games at Centre in 2005 and 2006. The Beavers defeated the Colonels in 2004 at Bluffton by a score of 33-24 as they resumed their series for the first time since a three-game tilt from 1956-58.
Centre College handed Bluffton a 21-6 defeat in the season opener for both teams on Saturday, September 2, 2006.
Freshman running back A.J. Ramthun (Springfield/Southeastern) led the Beaver rushing attack as he carried the ball 21 times for 60 yards. Junior wideout Anthony Bryant (Reynoldsburg/Reynoldsburg) finished the day with 33 yards on five receptions. Two-time All-HCAC linebacker Sam McCullough (Bluffton/Bluffton) paced the defense with eight tackles for the day, while senior Bryan Lloyd, now the defensive line coach, contributed with seven tackles, including a sack.
Centre opened the scoring late in the first quarter as Jordan Tinnell found a crease and scored on a 27-yard rush to give the Colonels a 7-0 lead with 33 seconds left. The Bluffton defense clamped down in the second quarter limiting Centre to 16 total yards. As the second quarter was winding down, Centre's Zack Sloan returned a punt 73 yards for a score to give the Colonels a 14-0 advantage with only 22 seconds remaining in the first half.
Bluffton closed the gap in the third quarter when Jared Owens capped a seven-play 56-yard drive with a one-yard plunge. The extra point attempt was blocked leaving the Beavers down 14-6 with 2:31 left in the third quarter.
Bluffton's defense limited Centre to 200 yards of total offense, however, the Beavers' offense could not get going as it mustered only 148 yards in the loss.
Sophomore tailback A.J. Ramthun led the Beavers rushing attack in 2006 with 463 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Also returning for Bluffton is senior Terence Clayton (Napoleon/Napoleon) who gained 122 yards on only 30 carries as a junior. Senior wide receiver Mike Brown (North Wales, Penn./Calvary Christian Academy) hauled in 16 passes for 169 yards and one score a year ago. Also providing the Beavers with great hands is junior tight end Joel Sienicki (Goshen, Ind./Northridge) who picked up 14 receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown as a junior.
Two-time first team All-HCAC linebacker Sam McCullough led the Beavers with 115 tackles, including 6.5 TFL's last season. Senior safety Taylor Iceman (Lucas/Lucas) picked up 84 tackles and three interceptions in 2006. Junior defensive end Kyle Rode (Delphos/Jefferson) finished last season with 51 tackles and five sacks while senior cornerback Erick Buddin (Ypsilanti, Mich./Ypsilanti) recorded 50 tackles and two interceptions from his cornerback position.
Bluffton will host Adrian College on Saturday, September 15, following a bye week on Sept. 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Centre hosts Maryville College on September 8, with a 1:30 p.m. start.
