Manchester vs. BC

Manchester at Bluffton

By Ben Risinger, SID
November 3, 2003

The Matchup

            When: Saturday, November 8, 2003

            Where:  Bluffton, Ohio – Dwight Salzman stadium

            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 2-6 overall record. Manchester is 1-7 on the 2003 season.

The Coaches

   Bluffton coach Greg Brooks is 2-6 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.

   The Spartans are led by Dave Harms (Drake 1980). Harms owns a 26-62 career record as head coach at Manchester. Prior to his head coaching tenure he was the offensive line coach at Valparaiso University for two seasons.

 

Series History

  The Beavers own a 27-21 series advantage over the Spartans. Last season Manchester won the contest 18-6 at Manchester. But, the Beavers have taken four of the last five contests.

This Year’s contest

   Bluffton will enter the contest at 2-6 (0-4 HCAC). Manchester is 1-7 (0-4 HCAC) for the 2003 campaign. Manchester’s only win of the season came against Earlham on September 13, 14-2.

Last Week for Bluffton and Manchester
   Bluffton traveled to Franklin and lost 21-20. Receiver Ben Dodds led Bluffton’s offense attack with three rushing touchdowns on the contest. He posted 33 rushes for 105 yards on the ground. Quarterback Jared Owens went 22-16-0 for 161 yards in the air. Chris Sommers led the team in tackles with 11 (6 solo, 5 assisted), had two TFL’s for 2-yards and one pass deflection.
   Manchester lost to Defiance 16-20 at Manchester. The Spartans held a 16-7 lead until the fourth quarter when two quick touchdowns by Defiance early in the fourth ended the game. Spartan quarterback Michael Blosser went 41-18-3 for 177 yards and one touchdown from the air. Gregg Jarrett led the team in rushing with 21 carries for 84 yards. Brandon Tugmon led the receivers with eight catches for 99 yards and one touchdown. Jake Sharin led the defense with 12 tackles (7 solo, 5 assisted) and three pass deflections.

 

Leading the Beavers on the year

   Quarterback Jared Owens enters the contest with 1164 yards on the season with two touchdowns from the air. Owens is 160-96-6 for a completion percentage of 60.0 %. Ben Dodds leads the rushing attack with 829 yards on 198 carries (4.2 avg. per carry). Dodds currently leads the HCAC in All-Purpose yards, averaging 182.9 ypg. Mark Gable leads the receivers with 27 catches for 415 yards on the year (15.4 avg. per catch). Defensively, Chris Sommers posts 94 tackles (37 solo, 57 assisted) with four pass break ups and three tackles for a loss.

Leading the Spartans on the year

   Quarterback Michael Blosser has thrown for 934 yards this season, going 215-95-10 into Saturday’s contest. He owns a completion percentage of 44.2 %. Paul Bryant leads the rushers with 83 carries for 222 yards (2.7 avg. per carry) and two touchdowns. Greg Jarrett has 155 yards rushing for the season. Brandon Tugmon leads the receivers with 558 yards off of 53 carries (69.8 ypg) and posts four touchdowns for the year.

 

Bluffton in the Heartland Conference
   As a team the Beavers lead the HCAC in rushing offense, averaging 185.2 yards per game (1482 total yards). In the passing offense category the Beavers are sixth, averaging 151.8 ypg. Bluffton ranks fourth in total offense with 337.0 ypg. The Beavers defense ranks second in HCAC rushing defense allowing opponents only 108.0 ypg on the ground, they are seventh in pass defense, allowing 288.0 ypg. In total defense Bluffton is fifth, allowing opponents a total of only 396.0 ypg. The Beavers are fifth in scoring offense, averaging 18.6 ppg.

Beaver individuals in Heartland Conference

   Ben Dodds continues to lead the HCAC in all purpose yards for the fifth straight week, averaging 182.9 ypg (1463 yds. total).  He is third in the conference in scoring, averaging 6.9 points per game and is second in touchdown scoring with nine touchdowns for the year. Dodds currently ranks third in the conference in rushing with 829 total yards (103.6 ypg) with Jared Owens following at sixth in the league in rushing with 341 total yards (42.6 ypg). From the air Owens currently ranks seventh in passing with 1164 total yards (145.5 ypg). In total offense Owens ranks fifth, averaging 188.1 ypg. Chris Sommers leads the conference defensively with 94 tackles for the season He has put in 37 solo and 57 assisted tackles with an 11.8 tackles per game average.

Last Season Overall

   Bluffton finished the 2002 campaign at 3-7 (1-5 HCAC). Manchester finished 3-7 (2-4 HCAC).

 

Season finales for Beavers and Spartans
   Bluffton will finish the 2003 campaign on the road against rival Defiance College. Manchester will host Anderson for their final home game of the season. Kickoff for both games is scheduled for 1 p.m.