A group of Bluffton defenders, including Brody Anderson (6), Carson Kruse (23) and Quinn Eachus (9), drag down Ottawa Hills’ John Perozek in the regional semifinals last week at Napoleon. The Pirates’ defense recorded nine shutouts so far this season, including a 34-0 win against Ottawa Hills.
Jessica Trinko | The Lima News
BLUFFTON — Landen Worcester paused a second as he pondered the question.
Was the star running back for Bluffton prouder of his four-touchdown night in a 34-0 win against Ottawa Hills in the regional semifinal, or was the Northwest Conference defensive player of the year as a linebacker prouder of his contributions to the Pirates’ ninth shutout of the year?
“That’s a good question,” said Worcester, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior. “I mean, I don’t think anything looks better than a big old goose egg on the other person’s scoreboard. So I think that’s probably what I take more pride in.”
The Pirates earned a spot in the regional finals at 7 p.m. Friday at Findlay’s Donnell Stadium against Northwest Conference foe Columbus Grove. With a win, Bluffton could pick up the program’s second trip to the state’s final four, with the other coming back in 1991 when it finished as state runner-up.
There’s a lot for the Pirates (12-1) to take pride in defensively this season. They had seven shutouts in a row earlier in the year. They’ve allowed just 166.8 yards per game, with merely 24 yards allowed in the first half against Ottawa Hills. They’ve recorded 24 sacks, including four last weekend in the win against Ottawa Hills. That defense forced 23 turnovers over 13 games, compared to just four giveaways by the Pirates.
Last week, Bluffton shut down the Green Bears’ Rocco Pillareli, who averaged 107 yards per game this season, allowing just a 66-yard output on 15 carries, with most of those yards in the second half when the game was already out of hand.
“It’s more of just our defense being unstoppable,” said Daniel Fredritz, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior offensive and defensive lineman for Bluffton. “I mean, it’s really nice to get the shutouts, but if we don’t get a shutout, it’s not the end of the world. We still just need to win.”
Carson Kruse, a junior safety, leads the team with eight tackles per game, followed by Worcester with seven tackles per game. Gavin Bogart, a senior linebacker, and Quinn Eachus, a junior safety, share the team lead with five interceptions each.
The Pirates’ defensive philosophy is simple enough, coach Jeff Richards said.
“Defense-wise, it was just responsibility football and making sure our guys hold each other accountable and focus on what they had to do,” he said. “They’re not doing more than what they were supposed to do and not trying to cover for somebody else.
“You know, a big part of it came down to trust each other. Our guys do a great job at that, and my staff does a great job in preparing them throughout the week.”
Now the Pirates get to see their nemesis from the NWC again. Columbus Grove won the league title with a 14-7 victory at the end of the regular season, costing Bluffton a possible undefeated regular season. Trenton Barraza scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:07 left in that Oct. 20 game.
Worcester only had 53 rushing yards on 15 attempts in that game, well behind his season average of 131.8 rushing yards per game. He said the Pirates play “angrier” now and have improved since Week 10.
The Pirates welcome another shot at the Bulldogs, who advanced to the regional finals for the second year in a row with their 37-21 win against Carey.
“I do remember I mentioned after Week 10 that the silver lining of that game was that we might get to play again,” Richards said. “We care about winning the next one. If it is Grove, it’s that opportunity. I’d say our guys have worked hard for that.”
Reach David Trinko at 567-242-0467 or on Twitter @Lima_Trinko.
