When: Saturday, September 22, 2007, at 1 p.m.
Where: Kalamazoo, Michigan - Angell Stadium
On the Radio: Listen live to Bluffton University football on WDOH 107.1 FM.
Bluffton University goes on the road for the first time this season to face Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association member Kalamazoo College.
Greg Brooks is currently in his fifth year as the head coach of the Bluffton University football team. The Beavers have put together a 13-29 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.
Terrance Brooks is entering his third season as head coach of the Hornets following a three-year stint as the assistant head coach at Shenandoah University (Va.). He led the Hornets to a three-game improvement and unblemished mark at home in his first season at Kalamazoo. In 2006, Brooks was one of 20 coaches selected to attend the NCAA Football Coaching Academy in Indianapolis.
Bluffton has a 3-1-1 record in its five games against Kalamazoo College. The Beavers have won the last three meetings between the two clubs, including a 17-14 victory at Salzman Stadium a year ago when the Hornets missed a 20-yard field goal with only 46 ticks remaining on the clock.
Despite a time of possession edge that was nearly 40 minutes to 20 minutes, the Bluffton University football team was unable to put any points on the board as Adrian College improved to 2-0 against opponents from the Heartland Conference with its 20-0 shutout of the Beavers at Salzman Stadium on a cool Saturday, September 15, 2007.
Bluffton had its chances early on as Adrian turned the ball over on downs at its own 36 when Kyle Spence (Rushylvania/Benjamin Logan) broke through for a tackle in the backfield on Adrian's first possession. Kyle Coleman (Etna/Watkins Memorial) found Joel Sienicki (Goshen, Ind./Northridge) for a 15-yard pickup, but the offense stalled and Bluffton gave it back to Adrian on downs at the Adrian 24.
Early in the second quarter, the Beavers got another big break when Brandon Herr (Bluffton/Bluffton) picked off a Troy Niblock pass at midfield on the Bulldogs' first play from scrimmage. A three-yard gain by quarterback Brock Miller (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) moved the chains before Bluffton turned the ball over on downs when Miller was stuffed at the line of scrimmage on fourth and 1 four plays later.
The Bluffton defense was up to the challenge on Adrian's next possession as Taylor Iceman (Lucas/Lucas) picked off Mike McGee in the end zone for a touchback after McGee and Clinton Miller hooked up for two catches and 49 yards.
Junior Kyle Coleman completed 7-of-13 passes for 66 yards with no interceptions, while sophomore signal-caller Brock Miller finished 5-for-6 for 40 yards and no pickoffs. Joel Sienicki led Bluffton with five catches for 42 yards. Senior linebacker Sam McCullough (Bluffton/Bluffton), Ryan Christy (Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnet) and Taylor Iceman all picked up eight stops to pace Bluffton. McCullough finished with 2.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. Rode chipped in with six tackles, including a sack for a loss of 11 yards.
Bluffton held Adrian to 278 total yards, but the Adrian defense was up to the task, allowing only 129 yards to the Beavers' offense. Neither team was able to move the ball on the third-down opportunities as Adrian went 2-of-10 and Bluffton finished 2-for-15. The Beavers controlled the ball for 38:31, but they were unable to parlay that lopsided time differential into points.
Valapraiso 38, Kalamazoo 24
The Kalamazoo College football team lost its season opener 38-24 to NCAA I-AA Valparaiso University on Saturday, Sept. 15.
Kalamazoo took an early 9-0 lead following a 22-yard field goal by Jon Rea and a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Tallman to Jimmy Semelsberger.
Jordan Tallman connected on touchdown passes to Chris Coriasso and Brandon Baity in the third quarter to give Kalamazoo a 24-23 lead. Valparaiso came back again as the Crusaders scored twice in the fourth quarter to take the 38-24 lead which held up as the final score.
Jordan Tallman was 28-of-49 passing for 207 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Mike Benson hauled in 10 catches for 98 yards to lead the Kalamazoo receiving corps. Semelsberger and Coriasso both picked up six receptions in the loss.
Steve Charon led the defense with 18 total tackles. Blake MacDonald finished with 11 tackles, while Ross Dalrymple chipped in with seven tackles and a quarterback sack. Charon and Rob Duszynski both picked off Valparaiso passes which set up a Hornets score.
Freshman tailback Cameron Campeau (Pfafftown, N.C.) leads the Beavers with 39 yards rushing. Sophomore quarterback Brock Miller has completed 12-of-21 passes for 118 yards with a touchdown in the opener against Centre College. Joel Sienicki is pacing the Bluffton receivers with nine receptions for 78 yards with the Beavers’ only touchdown. Mike Brown (North Wales, Penn./Calvary Christian Academy) and Drew Lovelace (Trumansburg, N.Y./Charles U. Dickerson) have five receptions through the first two contests.
Two-time first team All-HCAC linebacker Sam McCullough has a team-high 23 stops, including eight solos, a sack, an interception and a blocked punt. Senior safeties Ryan Christy and Taylor Iceman have chipped in with 14 and 13 tackles, respectively.
Bluffton returns home to face Franklin College in the Heartland Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Salzman Stadium. Kalamazoo hosts Adrian College in the Hornets MIAA opener on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m.
