October 23, 2012
Beavers look for win #5 at Anderson on Saturday
LIVE STATS / LIVE AUDIO / PREVIEW
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University football team picked up where it left off in 2011 when the Beavers won five of their last six contests, including a first-ever victory over Rose-Hulman. Bluffton equaled the school record with five conference victories, tying for second place in the Heartland Conference. The Beavers handled Kenyon College in Salzman Stadium on Sept. 1, posting a 20-0 shutout of the Lords. Bluffton then traveled to #17 B-W, dropping a 45-13 decision to the Yellow Jackets before opening HCAC action at Earlham with a 28-20 road win. The Beavers fashioned their first win (14-7) over MSJ since 2001 and knocked off RHIT 37-34 in its first-ever 3-overtime game on Saturday. A 40-13 loss to Hanover set up a much-needed bye week. Trips to Anderson and Franklin lead up to the season finale, a home battle with rival Defiance on Nov. 10.
ALL-TIME SERIES - Following a 17-12 win by the Beavers last season, the Bluffton University football team holds a slim 19-18 advantage over Anderson in the all-time series. AU had won four straight games over Bluffton, including a 28-23 victory in 2010 when the teams last met at Macholtz Field.
LEADING THE BEAVERS - Junior Airic Steagall and freshman Calib Alexander have formed an outstanding one-two punch in the backfield, combining for 834 yards and seven TD's on192 carries. Junior Shawn Frost has 27 receptions for 346 yards with three scores while junior QB Tyler Wright is 82-123 for 1,038 yards and six touchdowns. Junior Josh Runda leads the Beavers with 67 tackles and he has nine TFL's, a forced fumble and a recovery. Ben Kaufman, the HCAC Player of the Week following his work at RHIT, checks in with 59 stops. Kaufman has two pickoffs, while Mike Johnson has 5 breakups. Justin Hahn, Tyler Hensley and Jeff Parker all have two INT's.
LAST CONTESTS - The rain held off until after the game, but that did not stop Hanover College form pouring it on in the second half as the Panthers outscored Bluffton 26-3 in the final two quarters en route to a 40-13 victory over the Beavers on Homecoming weekend. Anderson lost to HCAC foe Earlham 21-19 on Saturday at Beane Stadium. AU dominated the statistics, finishing with a 328-162 advantage in total offense. The Ravens also had the edge in first downs (23-7), total plays (84-41) and time of possession (41-19 minutes). It marked Earlham's first Heartland Conference win since joining the HCAC prior to the 2010 season.
-BEAVERS-
