It is Week 3, which means it’s time for conference play in northeast Indiana.
The SAC, NE8, NECC and ACAC will begin battling to crown a conference champion this week. There is no debate there is no game with more on the line so early in the season than Bluffton at South Adams, who face off Friday in Berne.
Let’s dive into our OTH Week 3 Game of the Week!
WHAT’S ON THE LINE
For several years, the ACAC has been dominated by the Adams Central Flying Jets. This could be the first season we crown a new conference champion since 2020 (South Adams), and this game may very well decide who challenges the Jets for the title.
Bluffton comes in with a pair of dominating victories over Shenandoah and Churubusco to start the season. South Adams enters Friday with a 1-1 record, with a 45-27 loss to Eastside and an easy 42-19 win over Bellmont last week.
Although their opponents haven’t been the strongest thus far, the Tigers come into Week 3 as the highest-scoring team (82 points) in the league and also the stingiest defense, allowing only six points in two games.
If Bluffton wins, its match-up against Adams Central on October 9 likely decides the ACAC. If South Adams wins, it will take on the Flying Jets on Sept. 25.
Last season, Bluffton beat South Adams in a high-scoring thriller 44-41. The expectations are the same for this year.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bluffton running back Cooper Craig leads the Tigers as their most dynamic player on offense. He has 289 rushing yards and five touchdowns so far this season. He has been explosive hitting the outside gap and breaking away for huge runs against lesser competition. Can South Adams slow him down?
Axton Beste wasn’t called upon to do a whole lot in the team’s first two games. His goal was simple, just don’t turn the ball over. He delivered, with no turnovers thus far. With over 200 all-purpose yards of his own, if South Adams finds a way to slow down Craig, Beste will be asked to do more and hit top targets Maddox White and Bennett Stroller to move the ball on offense.
Junior linebacker Cameron Simpson leads the Tigers in tackles with 17, with two sacks as well. Ultimately, Bluffton’s secondary will be put to work against the Starfires’ high-level passing attack. Stroller, who plays both sides of the ball, has two INTs on the season and will need to lead the way in the secondary if the Tigers want to slow down South Adams’ aerial attack.
South Adams junior quarterback Zaden Baumer has been lighting it up in his first two starts of his high school career. He has a 65 percent completion percentage and has completed 39-of-60 for 552 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. The Starfires will continue to work through him and their passing attack to win this game.
Two-way athlete Wes Summersett already has 222 yards and four TDs on offense and also has 28 total tackles and a sack on the defensive side of the ball. As the best overall player on the field, he will be keyed on by the Bluffton defense, so senior wideout Jax Wanner will need to continue doing what he’s been doing, which is lead the team in receiving with 311 yards and three scores. This offense is going to try and stick with what they know best and that is by being aggressive in the air.
BLITZ’S PICK
Check out who Blitz feel will win this game and others around the area!
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