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BLUFFTON, OHIO – A defensive effort that saw Manchester University produce a pair of takeaways and had a trio of upperclassmen register eight-or-more tackles spotlighted a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference road trip Saturday, Oct. 22.
Senior linebacker Nathan Birk (Indianapolis, Ind.) delivered 11 tackles, and junior defensive back Mitch Oskam (St. John, Ind.) and senior linebacker Jordan Kleber (Seymour, Ind.) added eight each against Bluffton University's offense. Birk proved very busy on the Dwight Salzman Stadium field, forcing a fumble and recording an interception. Despite those efforts, the Beavers' offense, behind the arm of Connor Sheehan, used an aerial attack that threw for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns to subdue the Black and Gold 34-6.
After the home team staked itself to a 21-0 halftime advantage, the youthful MU offense got in motion early in the third quarter driving 55 yards in seven plays for a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Alex Downard (Indianapolis, Ind.), in his first collegiate start, hit junior tight end Jared Bourff (Elwood, Ind.) on a three-yard scoring strike to make the count 21-6. The defense forced a pair of BU punts after the score, giving the visitors a chance to cut into the deficit, but a fumbled punt return and three-and-out series thwarted a further comeback.
The Spartans return to Carl W. Burt Memorial Field in North Manchester for a league contest against Earlham College Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.