Yellow Jackets reclaim The Hammer with 23-21 win at Bluffton

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Saturday's season finale for the Defiance Yellow Jackets was the team's closest margin of the 2024 campaign and resulted in a 23-21 victory over the rival Bluffton Beavers at Alumni Field. 

The Yellow Jackets (4-7) earned back the Hammer for the team's first road win of the season for DC's second straight victory playing at Bluffton. In the 100th installment of one of Ohio's oldest in-state rivalries, Defiance overcame a halftime deficit to win for the first time this season thanks to an electrifying afternoon running the football. Led by two long touchdown runs from Tristan Thomas, Defiance rushed for 232 yards to surpass the 200-yard barrier for the second time during the year.

With both squads carrying near mirror images in season scoring averages, it was no surprise to see a 7-6 score after one quarter. The Beavers (3-7) marched downfield for a touchdown on their opening drive, which ended on a 25-yard pass from quarterback Evan Unruh to Koby Coffee. After exchanging punts, Thomas gave DC a jolt with a 41-yard touchdown run to bring the Jackets within one due to a failed PAT.

On the third play of Bluffton's next possession, Jackets defender Connor Essick snagged his first interception in purple and gold and delivered prime field position for the offense. The Beavers' defense stood up and limited the Jackets to a field goal, which was a 26-yard kick by Gregory Breston for his first career points, to take a 9-7 lead. 

For the rest of the half, the Beavers shook off one more turnover and forced a Defiance three-and-out before embarking on a lengthy scoring drive before the half. Bluffton took nearly seven minutes off the clock while driving 81 yards on 12 plays before Unruh punched in a 10-yard rush with 3:31 left before the half.

THE TURNING POINT

Both defenses played inspired at the start of the second half as short drives and punts were the only drive results to start the third quarter. The Beavers appeared to have another long drive to add to their lead with a drive inside the DC 10. On the ninth play of the drive, Bluffton running back DeAunte Hubbard fumbled inside the 5-yard line, and it was recovered by Jackets linebacker Coty Johnson II. Backed up on their own 2-yard line, Defiance called Thomas' number on a second down run and the freshman back found a seam around the right side and won a 98-yard footrace for a go-ahead touchdown. Thomas' 98-yard rushing score was the longest offensive play from scrimmage in Yellow Jackets football history.

Punt were traded through the end of the third quarter until the Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 11. A 27-yard pass from Bluffton High School grad Garret Bogart to Jalen Warren had Defiance near at the 25 just head of the quarter break. Thomas set up first-and-goal with a 17-yard rush to start the final stanza, then Bogart found fellow freshman Caleb Johnson for a five-yard score. However, the Beavers answered right back on a four-yard rush with 9:42 left in the game. 

Defiance compiled their longest offensive drive of the day, burning nearly eight minutes of clock but stalled out near the goal line at the 2-minute warning. The Beavers last-chance drive lasted nine plays and ended with Essick's second interception of the game at DC's 22-yard line to put the game on ice.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Yellow Jackets tightened the all-time series vs. Bluffton to 50-48-2 in favor of the Beavers. 
• Saturday's victory is also the 399th win in program history, setting up next season's first win to be a milestone of 400.
• The win improved head coach Bill Nickell to 2-1 against Bluffton with a pair of wins on the road during his tenure as DC's coach.
• All 23 points scored by Defiance were made by freshman players. Tristan Thomas had two touchdowns. The Caleb Johnson from Garret Bogart passing score was an all-freshman connection. Lastly, Gregory Breston's two PATs and a field goal were also posted by the first-year kicker.
• The Yellow Jackets made timely plays as was reflected by going 4-for-12 on third down and picking up eight fewer first downs than Bluffton. DC was also outgained 431-373, marking the first win of the season losing the yardage battle. 
• One of the two team's few statistical differences all season was turnover margin. Defiance entered the game -3 while Bluffton was -11 entering the contest. The Jackets forced four turnovers and surrendered just one to break even on turnovers for the season.
• DC's 232 yards rushing were the second-most of the year and the first 200-yard rushing game since defeated Judson in Week 3. 
• Tristan Thomas set multiple team superlatives in the win. His 230 rushing yards were a season-high by any Defiance rusher this year, and his 243 all-purpose yards were the top performance of the year. It was the first individual 200-yard rushing performance since Tyshaun Freeman ran for 235 against Franklin in 2023.
• Thomas' 98-yard rushing touchdown snapped the previous program record of 90 yards by George Schaefer, which was recorded during the 1977 version of Defiance vs. Bluffton.
• Garret Bogart was a very efficient throwing playing against his hometown college. He completed 12-of-17 attempts for 141 yards with one score and one interception.
• Tyshawn Woodson led the defense with 12 tackles and had one of the team's two fumble recoveries.
• Connor Essick became the second Yellow Jacket with multiple interceptions in a game in 2024. He also recorded a season-best eight tackles with his first sack for DC.

-JACKETS-