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Local Sports

Saturday, October 31, 2009

NWC Football: Grove beats Bluffton
Ohio Automotive Supply Co.
By NATHAN INNIGER

STAFF WRITER

COLUMBUS GROVE -- Columbus Grove had its own version of "the drive" Friday night and the Bulldogs clinched a playoff appearance in Division VI, Region 22 with a 21-6 win over Northwest Conference rival Bluffton.

Holding a 7-6 lead coming out of the half, Columbus Grove (7-3l, 6-2 NWC) called on quarterback Jordan Travis, who had attempted only four first-half passes, to open up some running room for the Bulldog backs.

Travis found Jacob Miller for a 17-yard gain on the first play of the half to move the ball up the its 43-yard line.

Columbus Grove, which won its fifth straight ver Bluffton, then put the game in the hands of senior running back Rayce Risser

On third-and-five, CG put Risser in the wildcat and he surged 10 yards for the first down.

Then Risser carryied the ball on five of the next six plays, including three runs that gained over 10 yards.

He scored on a one-yard plunge to put Columbus Grove up 14-6.

"That was big to come out in the second half," Columbus Grove coach Scott Palte said. "We went in there and tried to make a couple of adjustments for our line, so we could really come out in our first drive of the second half and punch one in."

It was just what Bluffton coach Dennis Lee knew couldn't happen if the Pirates wanted to win the game.

"We had to get a stop on that opening drive of the half," Lee said.

The nine play, 74-yard drive took some steam out of the Pirates, who were forced into a three-and-out on their next possession.

"It was nice to come out and get a big drive and then we got a big three-and-out stop," Palte said. "They had to punt into the wind and we had a short field and we've been opportunists, we've taken advantages of short fields and turnovers."

Columbus Grove did just that as the Bulldogs gained possession on the Bluffton 32 yard line.

After Risser converted on fourth-and-one, Travis hit Jacob Miller for a 20-yard completion putting the ball on the one.

Risser, who had 111 yards rushing and reached 1,000 yards for the season, reached the end zone for a third time on the next play.

Bluffton (4-6, 3-5) did not fold, however, as the Pirates moved the ball inside the Columbus Grove 30 in all three of their fourth-quarter possessions.

Mistakes and turnovers proved costly, however.

Bluffton quarterback Levi Gleason, who was 9-of-16 passing for 86 yards, was sacked for a 15-yard loss to stall one drive.

Pirates' back-up quarterback Hunter Joseph threw an interception to Risser inside the five and mishandled a snap inside the 10 that Luke Kohls returned 37 yards to kill possible scoring drives.

"I don't know how many points we left out there," Lee said. "Just mistakes, penalties, bad reads; it was a combination."

The Pirates got on the board first on a 13-play drive as Gleason hooked up with Christian Smith for a 41-yard touchdown pass on Bluffton's first possession.

Columbus Grove answered after the Pirates fumbled a handoff that Kohls recovered on the Bluffton 21.

The Bulldogs scored three plays later as Risser got in from five yards away.

"Rayce is a great kid," Palte said. "I couldn't imagine a kid who cares more about Columbus Grove football than Rayce Risser."

The win clinched a playoff spot for the Bulldogs, its first appearance since 2006.

"You can't beat that, to call yourself one of the best 32 teams in the state in your division and people get to come watch you," Palte said.

For Risser that was the more important thing.

"It feels good (to gain 1,000 yards)," Risser said. "But I wouldn't care if I got a yard as long as we won tonight and got one more game to play."



Bluffton 6 0 0 0 -- 6

Columbus Grove 7 0 14 0 -- 21

First Quarter

BLU -- Smith 41 pass from Gleason (kick failed)

CG -- Risser 5 run (Kohls kick)

Third Quarter

CG -- Risser 2 run (Kohls kick)

CG -- Risser 1 run (Kohls kick)

Bluffton Col Grove

First Downs 13 16

Rushes-yards 46-171 27-55

Passing Yards 178 59

Comp-Att-Int 11-21-1 4-8-0

Punts-Avg. 4-30.3 5-27.2

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 3-2

Penalties-Yards 7-55 5-55

individual statistics

rushing -- Bluffton, Rayl 11-39, Gudankunst 6-19, Devier 3-8, Gleason 7-(-11). Columbus Grove, Risser 27-111, Verhoff 10-43, Miller 7-16, Travis 2-1.

passing -- Bluffton, Gleason 9-16-0, 86; Joseph 3-5-1, 92. Columbus Grove, Travis 4-8-0, 59.

receiving -- Bluffton, Devier 5-92, Smith 3-56, Rayl 2-15, Lee 1-15, Gudankunst 1-0. Columbus Grove, Miller 2-37, Risser 1-13, Kohls 1-9.

Inniger, 419-422-5151




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