When: Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Bluffton, Ohio – Salzman Stadium
On the Radio: Listen live to Bluffton University football on WDOH 107.1 FM.
The Bluffton University football team makes its 2008 home debut against Kalamazoo College, the Beavers’ third consecutive contest against an opponent from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Following the matchup with the Hornets, Bluffton will host Mt. St. Joseph during the 2008 Homecoming weekend on Oct. 4 in Salzman Stadium at 1:30 p.m.
Head Coach Tyson Veidt made his debut on the Bluffton sidelines three weeks ago in the Beavers’ 2008 opener at Alma College. Despite taking over the reins just eight short months ago, Veidt and his staff at Bluffton currently have 53 first-year players on the squad. Veidt comes to Bluffton after assistant coaching stints at West Virginia and Indiana. Most recently he was the defensive coordinator for Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. New additions to the Bluffton coaching staff are Chris Krieg, Bo White, Jason Diller and Brian Hefner. Returning to the Beavers are Denny Phillips, Lou Stokes, Bryan Lloyd and Bill Fisher.
Jamie Zorbo was named head football coach at Kalamazoo College on Dec. 4, 2007. He is the 25th head football coach in school history and a 2000 graduate of the College. Zorbo first came to Kalamazoo as a student in 1996 after graduating from Battle Creek Lakeview High School. He was a four-year letter winner for the Hornets as a defensive end, and graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Following graduation, Zorbo remained at Kalamazoo as an assistant coach for six seasons while working on a master’s in business administration degree at Western Michigan University, which he completed in 2004. Zorbo moved on to DePauw University (Greencastle, Ind.) in 2006 where he coached the linebackers for two seasons, and most recently was the assistant defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and strength and conditioning coach.
Bluffton and Kalamazoo are set to square off for the seventh time and third consecutive season on Saturday, Sept. 27. Bluffton holds a 3-2-1 advantage in the series which dates back to 1935. The Beavers had won three straight contests against the Hornets, including a 17-14 victory two years ago in Salzman Stadium, before Kalamazoo pulled out a 37-19 win a year ago.
The Bluffton University football team took a 7-3 lead over the Adrian College Bulldogs midway through the second quarter, but the home team responded with 27 unanswered points during a 15-minute span to keep the Beavers winless on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008.
The Beavers put their first points of the year on the scoreboard when Dylan Moore picked off Mike McGee at the Adrian 27-yard line and took it to the house for a 7-3 Bluffton lead at the 9:40 mark of the second quarter.
A 35-yard return by Joseph Beeler gave Adrian great field position to start its next drive. The Bulldogs kept it on the ground and moved it to the two-yard line, but another Adrian fumble gave Bluffton the ball back. A three-play drive that netted no yards forced a Jonathan Thompson put from deep in the end zone.
Adrian again took possession in Bluffton territory and needed only one play, a 43-yard Jomar Jackson touchdown run, to reclaim the lead from the Beavers. A 26-yard strike from Miller to junior wideout Dan Chipka moved the chains following the Adrian score, but Brad Smagala interception three plays later set the Bulldogs up for their second score in the final 3:15 of the half, an eight-yard Jackson scamper into the end zone.
Bluffton gained 127 yards passing on 15-of-33 passing, but a loss of 16 yards on 30 rushes kept the Beavers' offense from moving the ball efficiently. Adrian totaled 365 yards, with 249 coming on the Bulldogs 44 rushing attempts. The home team picked up 20 first downs compared to seven for Bluffton. The Beavers were 5-of-19 on third downs after going 0-of-12 in the season opener at Alma. Adrian converted on 4-of-6 chances in the red zone.
Steve Sealscott paced the Bluffton defense with nine tackles, a forced fumble and one breakup. Aaron Jenkins finished with seven tackles. Dylan Moore and Oscar Vazquez-Dyer both had pickoffs for the visitors. Moore returned his for a touchdown while Vazquez-Dyer took one back 45 yards late in the game. Junior Jordan Achterman had both of Bluffton's sacks against the Bulldogs.
Manchester 42, Kalamazoo 21
The Kalamazoo College football team lost 42-21 at home to Manchester (Ind.) College on Saturday, Sept. 20. Manchester scored touchdowns on its first three drives and held a 27-14 lead at halftime. Kalamazoo cut the lead to 27-21 early in the third quarter, but Manchester quickly made it 35-21 and then 42-21 early in the fourth quarter.
Brandon Luczak connected with Jimmy Semelsberger on a 22-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and a 16-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Robbie Carollo had a one-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.
Brandon Luczak passed for 238 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Jimmy Semelsberger led Kalamazoo with 107 receiving yards on eight catches. Josh Mrozowski had 87 yards receiving on six catches. Brandon Baity had 45 yards on six catches. Ryan Bizzis had three catches for 30 yards.
Brandon Foutz and Steve Charon led the defense with 12 tackles each. Shane Nolan had 10 tackles.
Manchester's Caleb Grimes was 18-of-26 passing for 206 yards with two touchdowns. Grimes also rushed for 150 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns. Brandon Wells rushed for 91 yards on 20 carries with two scores. Adam Schell had 65 yards on 10 carries.
Greg Mason leads the Beavers with 59 yards rushing on 31 carries. Greg also has five receptions for 15 yards receiving. Junior quarterback Brock Miller has completed 22 of 49 passes for a total of 164 yards. Junior Curtis Griffin has four catches for a total of 33 yards this season.
Freshman Steven Sealscott has paced the Bluffton defense with 14 tackles, including nine solos and a forced fumble. Geoff Yost and Aaron Jenkins both have 10 stops while senior Kyle Rode has 2 TFL’s and a sack. Dylan Moore has Bluffton’s only touchdown of the season, a 27-yard interception return against Adrian.
Bluffton will host HCAC power Mt. St. Joseph in the Beavers’ 2008 Homecoming contest on Saturday, Oct. 4. Kickoff at Salzman Stadium is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Kalamazoo opens MIAA action when it travels to Adrian for a clash with the Bulldogs on Sat., Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.
