Five turnovers were an even worse enemy, leading to a 22-7 loss to the Pirates in a Northwest Conference tussle at soggy Stadium Park.
“Five turnovers was the name of the game as well as our inability to come out and play a good second half,” Jefferson coach Damon Ulm noted. “We moved the ball down the field our first two series and fumbled. We lived in Bluffton territory the first half but could only get a touchdown. We’re going to have to sit down and try to address our second-half problem.”
Jefferson (2-1, 1-1 NWC) had dominated the first half in yards (102-28) but only led 7-0. With the field extremely soggy due to a rainstorm that caused an hour delay between the first and second quarters, the Pirates (2-1, 1-0 NWC) embarked on a 12-play, 65-yard drive, with Jesse Herr (19 rushes, 115 yards) toting the pigskin six times for 30 yards. Craig Neal was 3-of-3 passing on the drive (20 yards). From the host 5, he rolled right and found Shane Cash on the goal line. Nate Shade’s kick was blocked by the middle of the defense, leaving the Jeffcats up 7-6 with 5:17 showing in the third.
With the rain all but stopping, Bluffton took possession again at its 42. Two plays later at the 46, Pirate coach Dennis Lee went to his bag of tricks. Neal dropped back and wrapped around a handoff to Herr. Neal kept going. With the defense completely fooled, Herr hesitated long enough to let everyone go by and tore off down the sideline. Neal ran in the 2-pointer for a 14-7 lead with 1:35 showing in the quarter.
“That was a great play call. I don’t remember seeing that play in a long time; hats off to Bluffton for it,” Ulm said.
The Pirates recovered a third Jefferson bobble at the home team’s 48 on the very next scrimmage play but managed only one first down and had to punt.
The next four possessions ended in punts, with the hosts starting to run out of time. Taking over at their 13 with 2:15 left, Jefferson’s Dustin Fisher was sacked by Clay Atkins for a loss of six. On the next play, he was hit while passing, with the ball floating to Ben Eiserle at the 11. He fought through traffic to find the end zone with 1:40 left. Zach Devier ran in the 2 for a 22-7 spread.
Jefferson’s final drive ended up with Fisher, under pressure, getting picked off by Devier at the Pirate 25.
“Bluffton just ran the ball at us the second half. The field conditions meant field position would be even more important,” Ulm added. “We came out well after the first delay but couldn’t maintain our intensity after the half. Our offense could never get the momentum back. The turnovers were killers.”
Jefferson saw their first two drives end with fumbles at Bluffton’s 12- and 20-yard lines as the rain started to come down.
An interception by junior Josh Miller left them at the Pirate 32 but a sack of Fisher (4 sacks, minus 23 yards) forced a punt.
Jefferson was living in Pirate territory when lightning was spotted at the end of the first period.
When play resumed, Bluffton would get an interception by Chad Dulle and the 25-yard return set the Pirates at the Jefferson 45. The drive went nowhere and Jesse Gudakunst punted. A backpedaling Tim Sanders caught it at his 21 and darted up the left side. He encountered virtually no resistance. He made two nice cuts, the final one at the Pirate 15, to find paydirt. Matthew Antalis added the kick for a 7-0 lead with 3:46 to go in the half.
Jefferson would get the ball back and drive from Bluffton’s 42 to the 24 but a 40-yard field goal try by Antalis was blocked to end the half.
Josh Menke ran 13 times for 63 yards for the hosts before leaving the game midway through the third period.
Jefferson visits Allen East Friday; Bluffton hosts Crestview.
