Football vs. Bluffton - Week 10 Game Notes

DEFIANCE, OHIO  - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets travel to Bluffton for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game against Bluffton University in the season finale at Dwight Salzman Stadium at 1:30 p.m. 

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COMPLETE GAME NOTES IN PDF FORMAT:  [CLICK HERE]

Series History

Saturday's meeting will be the 90th meeting in the history of the two rivals. Defiance holds a slim lead in the series standings with a record of 44-43-2. Bluffton has captured the previous four matchups, including a 17-10 decision last year at Coressel Stadium.  

In last year's game against the Beavers, the Yellow Jackets scored the first points with a touchdown in the second quarter. Bluffton then scored 17 unanswered points to lead 17-3 early in the fourth quarter. Then junior kicker Spencer Saunders scored the final points of the game on a 29-yard field goal, but Defiance came up short falling 17-10.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets

The offense is averaging 346.3 yards per game this season and will have sophomore Alex Larson (Highland, Mich./Milford) line up as the starter at the quarterback position. He has completed 90-of-147 passes for 1074 yards and nine touchdowns so far this season.

The Yellow Jacket backfield is led by senior Trevon Burrell (Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale). Coming into Saturday's game, Burrell has carried the ball 87 times for a team-leading 373 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and three TD.

In the slot position, look for the duo of junior Daniel Collins (West Springfield, Va./West Springfield) and sophomore Cody Wilson. To date, Collins has rushed for 308 yards on 83 carries (3.7 ypc.) and five TD. He has also caught 25 passes for 294 yards. Wilson is second on the team in receptions with 36 for 429 yards to go along with three TD.

At wideout, look for sophomores Darius Harper (Jacksonville, Fla./Robert E. Lee) and Dante Smith (Villa Rica, Ga./Villa Rica) to start. Harper currently leads the team in receptions (45) and yards (571). He also has four TD receptions on the year. Smith is fourth in catches with 18 for 173 yards.  

On defense, Defiance is currently allowing 361.0 yards per game, but has accounted for 19 takeaways this season with 14 interceptions and five fumbles.

The defensive line will line up three juniors with Kyle Wilson leading all linemen with 42 tackles (30 solo and 12 assists), including a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

The linebackers will start All-HCAC senior Eric Strickland (West Palm Beach, Fla./Seminole Ridge) and sophomore Matt DeVore (Van Buren). Strickland is third on the team in tackles with 58 (35 solo and 23 assists), including six tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. DeVore has made 32 tackles (17 solo and 15 assists) this season to go along with four sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in addition to recording a safety.

The Jacket secondary will be made up by junior first-team All-HCAC award winner Andrew Feldhaus (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner), freshman Angello Proulx (Warren, Mich./Mott) and sophomore Cody Wiggins (Howell, Mich./Howell) at the safety positions and senior Josh Slayton (Fort Wayne, Ind./North Side) and sophomore Kenny Jones (Toledo/Bowsher) at the corners. Feldhaus leads the team in tackles with 69 (46 solo and 23 assists) to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and a forced fumble.  

On special teams, senior Spencer Saunders has handled the place kicking duties this season. He is currently 2-of-5 in field goal attempts and has converted 24-of-28 extra-point attempts. Sophomore Tom Woehnker has taken over the punting duties and is averaging 36.4 yards per punt.

Scouting the Beavers

The Bluffton offense has been averaging 347.6 yards of total offense (131.6 rushing and 216.0 passing) this season.  

Calling the plays for the Grizzlies will be senior quarterback Nick Sheehan. Sheehan has completed 151-of-289 passes for 1,827 yards with 13 TD and 13 interceptions.  

At the running back spot, look for sophomore Dustin Fisher to start. To date, Fisher has carried the ball 70 times for 285 yards (4.1 ypc.) and has three TD. Also expect backup Dante Caroll to see his share of carries. He comes into Saturday's game with 77 rushes for 304 yards (3.9 ypc.) and three TD.  

The Beavers will feature a pair of wide receivers and a tight end to make up the receiving targets. Senior Jack Tomlinson leads the team in receptions (52) and yards (779) to go along with four TD. Backup receiver Micah Roberson has caught 50 passes for 505 yards and has three TD.    

On defense, Bluffton has been allowing 375.1 yards of offense (149.0 rushing and 226.1 passing). The Beavers will line up in a 4-3 scheme with an experienced defensive line made up of three seniors and a junior. Three of the four players rank in the top-10 in tackles with junior Ryan Aelker leading the way with 50 tackles (35 solo and 15 assits), including team-highs of 11.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He has also forced four fumbles, has two recovered fumbles, five pass breakups and one interception.  

The linebacking corps will also have an experienced group with all three starters being seniors. Brad Swavel leads the team in tackles with 78 (45 solo and 33 assists) and has seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

At the secondary positions, Bluffton is led by sophomore safety Tyrone White. White is currently second on the team in stops with 64 (49 solo and 15 assists) to go along with 3.5 tackles for loss and a team-high four interceptions.

On special teams, freshman Jordan Watkins is listed as the starting placekicker and freshman Agustin Espinoza the starting punter. Watkins is seven-of-nine in field goal attempts and 25-of-26 in extra point conversions. Espinoza has punted the ball 50 times so far this season and is averaging 32.7 yards per kick with a season-long boot of 57 yards.