The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-10-16

y
waning minutes of the fourth quar-
ter, Bluffton Highs courageous Pi-
rates remained in the unbeaten class
by coming from behind to tie Van
Vert, to z, in a thrill-packed con-
test played on Harmon field, last
Friday night.
Altho on the record books as a
tie score, the outcome of the contest
in more than one respect represents
an actual victory of the Bluffton
gridders.
They went into the game as the
under dogs because of the crushing
| pre-game news that Pete Schmidt,
backfeld ace of the Dillermen, would
be kept out of the lineup by an
elbow injury, and to emerge from the
game with a tie decision the locals
had to rally desperately to overcome
the advantages gained by Van Wert's
touchdown scored when only four
minutes remained in the ball game.
For the greater part of the even
ing, an aggressive Bluffton line COM
| pletely stymied every attempt of
the much larger Van Vert outfit,
/ which came here with a record of
two successive victories over formid-
able opponents.
Then what appeared to be dis
aster struck suddenly late in the
fourth quarter, as Van Vert marched
so yards for a touchdown. Starting
on their own 20, the Cougars moved
relentlessly goaIward, with reverse
plays in which Stuckey was the
ball carrier causing the most dam
age.
On three occasions the fleet Van
Vert halfback broke away for long
gains that spanked the visitors as
sault. On the first play he went 15
yards on reverse; two plays later
he picked up % more; and from
Bluffton's 40 he romped 20 yards
further on the same play.
For a time it looked as if Bluffton
might hold, for with first down on
the Pirate 10-yard stripe, Van Vert
was able to move only five yards
in three ties. On the fourth down.
however, Sells rifed pass tc
Stuckey in the end zone for the tally
Sells place-kick for the extra
point was good, and it looked as if
the game was lost with only four
minutes of playing time remaining
Van Vert had not reckoned with
! the gameness of the Bluffton crew
however, for the locals came right
back with scoring march of their
own that matched that of the Cou
gars, thrill for thrill.
Running the kickoff back to theil
: own 35, the Dillermen settled dowr
J to work in earnest. On the frs
: play Herrmann's pass to Coone,
was good for IL yards; and How,
: then drove thru the line for sever
more.
fl A pass to Beidler was incomplete
r but Howe hammered through cente,
5 for three yards and a first down
: Beidler then drove nine yards on
r reverse, and Howe added nine NOR
] when he caught Herrmanns' pass OF
the visitors 20 yard line.
Beidler almost broke free on a re
verse, and moved IL yards before h
| was brought down, and Howe knife,
center for two more. A Hermann
; to Howe pass carried the ball to th
one-yard stripe and on the next play
the Bluffton quarterback dove owe
for the touchdown.
i A tie was assured seconds late
= when Big Bob Cooney accuratel
place kicked the ball between the up
rights for the conversion.
1t was the first Western Buckley
league assignment of the season fo
! Bluffton and Van Vert, and the ii
decision left both teams in the run
! ming for the title. Bluffton is de
Tending champion in the loop.
Despite the fact that they wer
facing far heavier team, Blufftol
dominated play during most of tn
7 evening. Two frst-half threats wer
halted by Van Vert when it locke,
as if the Pirates would score, an,
: for the most part the locals kept th
Cougars vaunted power attack com
: pletely at check.
During the game, Bluffton gained
a total of 221 yards, and Van Wer
f gained 1876. The Pirates had |.
n first downs to Van Wert's eight
: and the locals completed IL of L
). passes, representing II of the %
5 yards they gained. Van Vert OF
the other hand made only 81 yards
5 on three completed passes.
0 Buttons starting lineup: Lef
D end, Cooney; left tackle, Weiss; left
guard, Deppler; center, j. Herr
mann; right guard, Burkholderi
E right tackle, R. Gratz; right end
Stratton; quarterback, Howe; left
t half, Klassen; right half, Beidler;
fullback, F. Hermann.