BLUFFTON, Ohio – A dominate rushing day paved the way for the Trine University football team's second win of the season, as they defeated their hosts from Bluffton University by the score of 52-20.
The Thunder finished the day with 220 yards on the ground, the most since last season when the team recorded 284 against Adrian College. Leading the way tonight was sophomore
Saleem Felder who ran for 164 yards on his own, including a 71 yard dash for a touchdown. It is the most yards by an individual since
Xaine Kirby ran for 184 yards in a game during the 2021 season.
Despite the lopsided final score, the game was close throughout the first half.
Cole Alexander scored the first points of the game with 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter, scrambling the final eight yards to the endzone after a 40 yard drive.
Emil Drake set up the possession with an early interception against the Beavers, which he returned to the Bluffton 40 yard line.
The defense came up with another turnover on the next drive by the home team. After a long 16-play drive that ate over seven minutes of gametime,
Tanner Goff broke up a pass on fourth down to give the ball back to the offense.
The Thunder put together their own long drive, 14-plays and six minutes, on the ensuing possession, but theirs ended in points. Alexander connected with
Tristan Burrus for a one-yard touchdown that made the score 14-0 with 12:23 remaining in the second quarter.
Bluffton broke a big run on the second play of their next drive, scoring their first touchdown of the day and cutting into the lead.
Frederick Griffin III blocked the extra point attempt to make the score 14-6. After forcing a three-and-out, the Beavers put together a second touchdown drive, going 88 yards to cut the lead to 14-13.
Alexander led the response for the Thunder ending with a 35-yard pass to
Jermaine Williams that made the score 21-13. That score held to the end of the half.
Out of the intermission,
Rashawn Street set up the team with great field position, taking the kickoff 58 yards deep into the offensive side of the field. Alexander completed a pair of passes, one to Burrus and the other a 27-yard touchdown to
Tim Kasper to make the score 28-13.
The Beavers scored their final points of the game on the next drive, when they broke a long touchdown run that cut the lead to 28-20. The Thunder dominated the rest of the game, scoring three more touchdowns and a field goal to build their final lead. Felder accounted for two of those touchdowns, both on the ground, with
Brett Fuchs adding the last on a reception from
Ivyn Collins.
Colton Wampler connected on a 38 yard field goal for the other points.
Defensively, Trine had another fourth down stop in the half along with an interception by Griffin and a fumble recovery by
Colten Zableckis. Four different members of the team had sacs in the game including
Kanaan Jewett,
Cal Lockhart,
Colson Conrad and
Wesyn Ludwig. Overall
Ridge Howard led the team with 12 total tackles with
Preston Sisson finishing second with nine.
Alexander finished the game with 144 yards passing going 11-for-18 with three touchdowns, he added 37 yards on the ground, second most on the team.
The Thunder improve to 2-1 overall following the win. They will return home for their next contest which will also open Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) competition. They are set to host Albion College on Saturday, September 28 at 1 p.m.
