bc vs. hanover preview

Bluffton at Hanover

By Ben Risinger, SID
October 14, 2003

The Matchup

            When: Saturday, October 18, 2003

            Where:  Hanover, Ind. – L.S. Ayres Field

            On the Radio: Listen live to Bluffton College football on WDOH 107.1 FM. The game can also be found on the internet at www.wdoh.com.

 

   The Bluffton Beavers enter the contest with a 2-3 overall record. Hanover is currently 4-1 for the 2003 season.

The Coaches

   Bluffton coach Greg Brooks is 2-3 on his career this season. Brooks is no stranger to the Bluffton program having been the offensive coordinator for the past 23 years. He is a 1977 graduate of Ohio University where he was a quarterback and a four-year letterman for the Bobcats.

   Hanover is led by Wayne Perry. Perry is in his 21st season at the helm of the Panthers. He owns a career record of 154-63-2. Perry’s only head coaching tenure has been at Hanover. Before becoming the head coach at HC, Perry was the offensive line coach from 1979-82.

 

Series History

   The Beavers will meet Hanover for the 27th time on Saturday. The Panthers own a 22-4 series advantage over Bluffton. The last time that BC defeated Hanover was in 1990 at home, final score 22-7.

This Year’s contest

   Bluffton will enter the contest at 2-3 (0-1 HCAC). Hanover is 4-1 (2-0 HCAC) for the 2003 campaign.  

Last Week
   Bluffton battled the Anderson Ravens and were defeated 42-28. Ben Dodds led the offensive attack last week in both rushing and receiving. He posted 40 carries for 188 yards on the ground and had five receptions for 69 yards. Quarterback Jared Owens went 10 for 20(169 yards) from the air. Chris Sommers led the defensive effort with 11 tackles (9 solo, 2 assisted).

   Hanover battled against HCAC foe Defiance, winning the contest 55-38. Quarterback Brett Dietz went 22 for 37 for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Adam Stevenson led the rushers and receivers, picking up 51 yards on the ground and caught five passes for 70 yards.

 

Leading the Beavers on the year

   Quarterback Jared Owens enters the contest with 748 yards on the season with two touchdowns from the air. Owens is 96-53-4 for a completion percentage of 55.2 %. Ben Dodds leads the rushing attack with 543 yards on 123 carries (4.4 avg. per carry). Mark Gable leads the receivers with 256 yards on 16 catches and one touchdown. Defensively, Chris Sommers posts 59 tackles (25 solo, 34 assisted) with one pass break up for the season. Pat Craun has 35 tackles (11 solo, 24 assisted) with five TFL’s, three quarterback sacks, two pass break ups and one fumble recovery.

 

Leading the Panthers on the year

   Panther quarterback Brett Dietz has thrown for 1651 yards in 2003. He is 240-145-5 and owns a completion percentage of 60.4 (18 touchdowns). Dietz averages 330.2 ypg. Adam Stevenson leads the Panthers ground attack with 25 carries for 177 yards. Clint Bobb is Hanover’s leading receiver with 28 catches for 316 yards and four touchdowns.

 

Beavers in the Heartland Conference
   As a team the Beavers lead the HCAC in rushing offense, averaging 206.4 yards per game (1032 total yards). Bluffton ranks third in total offense with 362.0 ypg. The Beavers defense ranks second in HCAC rushing defense allowing opponents only 100.0 ypg on the ground. In total defense Bluffton is third, allowing 365.4 ypg. The Beavers are third in scoring offense, averaging 23.8 ypg.

   Ben Dodds leads the HCAC in all purpose yards, averaging 178.6 ypg.  Dodds currently ranks third in the HCAC in rushing with 543 total yards (108.6ypg) with Jared Owens following at fifth in the league with 275 total yards (55.0 ypg). From the air Owens currently ranks fourth in passing with 748 total yards (149.6 ypg). In total offense Owens ranks third, averaging 204.6 ypg. Chris Sommers ranks second in the HCAC with 59 tackles for the season (11.8 tackles per game).

Last Season Overall

   Bluffton finished the 2002 campaign at 3-7 (1-5 HCAC). Hanover ended the 2002 season at 10-1 (6-0 HCAC). The Panthers won the Heartland conference and earned a berth to the NCAA D III playoffs, losing to Wittenberg 34-33.

 

Next up for the Beavers and Panthers
   Bluffton will host Mount St. Joseph at home. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Hanover will travel to Anderson University. Kickoff for the game is slated for 2:30 p.m. (Ohio time).