Game Preview: Adrian College Bulldogs Conclude Fall Football Campaign at Bluffton Univ. (OH)

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Adrian, MI – Adrian College (1-1 overall) travels to Bluffton, Ohio, on Saturday when they will tangle with host Bluffton University (0-0) in a non-conference football game on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Alumni Field at Salzman Stadium.

Notable Facts and Figures:

  • Adrian and Bluffton will be meeting for the first time since a 34-point Bulldogs’ road win 11 years ago.
  • Jim Deere ’89 is 62-42 record (.596) record in his 11th season as the Adrian head coach. He has piloted the Bulldogs to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships in 2012 and 14, and NCAA tournament bids in those seasons.
  • Senior junior DL DeAndre Jennings, who was No. 4 on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top Plays last Saturday, leads Adrian with 11 tackles (16 total), two sacks and three tackles-for-loss (3 yards).
  • Junior All-MIAA QB Jack Wurzer continues his climb on the school’s all-time passing record books: third in yards (4,787), third in touchdowns (43), fifth in completions (329) and sixth in attempts (573). He needs three TD passes to pass Bruce Crosthwaite (1984-87) for second place and needs 213 yards to become just the second AC signal-caller to reach 5,000 in a career.
  • Senior WR Henry Wilson topped the MIAA last season with a career-high of 898 yards on 40 receptions and he ranked second with eight TDs en route to first team accolades.
  • Freshman WR Preston Smith is the Bulldogs’ leading receiver with seven catches, 176 yards (88.0 ypg) while junior Gage Palus has two TD receptions on three catches overall (58 yards).
  • The Adrian offense is average 34.0 points, 375 yards of total offense and 207 rushing yards. Meanwhile, the defense has five takeaways, four sacks and yield just 167.7 yards passing per game.
  • Converted defensive back Steven Moses, a junior, leads the Adrian ground game with a 95.0 rushing yards per game (2 TDs), or 9.8 per carry, over two games. He leads the team in scoring with 14 points.
  • ILB Kyle Minder, a junior transfer from Siena Height University, tops the Bulldogs defense with 22 total tackles (10 solo), including 2.5 tackles-for-loss of nine yards, and an interception.
  • Sophomore LB Sam Madrid adds nine tackles and 15 total (2.5 TFL/7 yards), including a career-high 10 stops (5 solo) in the season opener against Trine.

SERIES HISTORY

Adrian holds a commanding 14-3 all-time lead over the Beavers, including a 4-1 mark in Bluffton.

The Bulldogs have won the last six meetings by scores of 30-3 on Sep. 25, 2004; 45-21 on Sep. 24, 2005; 17-6 on Sep. 16, 2006; 20-0 on Sep. 15, 2007; 34-7 on Sep. 20, 2008; and 41-7 on Sep. 19, 2009.

The series began in 1963 with a 28-14 Bulldog loss.

Like Adrian’s last opponent in Manchester, Bluffton also is a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Beavers’ original season opener last Saturday with Trine was cancelled.

In 2019, Bluffton was 2-8 overall (1-4 at home) and 2-5 in the HCAC.

Bluffton’s top-returning offensive weapon is senior RB Darian Greeley who rushed for 805 yards and three TDs a season ago.

Junior Zachary Nobis was one of four quarterbacks used last season, and had the most completions (62), attempts (111), yards (669), TDs (5) and best completion percentage (55.9 percent).

Senior DB Stephan Kosakowski is the top returner from 2019 on the defensive unit as he ranked third in total tackles with 66 (48 solo) and led BU with 10 passes defended (8 PBU, 2 INT).

*Game Preview and Photo courtesy of the Adrian College Athletic Department*

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