Bluffton, OHIO - The Mount St. Joseph University football team got back in the win column with a dominant 35–7 road victory over Bluffton University on Saturday afternoon at Salzman Stadium.
The Lions wasted little time setting the tone, marching down the field on their opening drive and capping it with a one-yard touchdown plunge from quarterback Jaxon Schreiber. From there, Mount St. Joseph controlled the pace of play, leaning on an efficient passing attack and a disciplined defense that kept the Beavers off the board until the fourth quarter.
In the second quarter, Schreiber connected with Dallas De La Cruz on a 34-yard strike down the sideline to extend the lead to 14–0 heading into halftime. The Lions offense continued to fire on all cylinders after the break, with Schreiber finding Patrick Connor for an 18-yard touchdown in the third quarter to push the margin to three scores.
The final period was all about sealing the win in emphatic fashion. Schreiber tossed his third and fourth touchdown passes of the afternoon—first to Eli LaFrange from four yards out and later to Michael Hunkus on a 35-yard bomb—to make it 35–0 before Bluffton finally broke through late with a rushing score from Jamarrion Banks.
Schreiber finished with a stellar line, going 14-of-27 for 184 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. The Lions' ground game provided balance, led by Steven Napier's 93 yards on 15 carries and De La Cruz's 70 yards on 10 attempts. Hunkus and Connor were among the top receiving targets, combining for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Mount St. Joseph's front was relentless, recording four sacks and consistently pressuring Bluffton's quarterbacks. The Lions' red-zone defense was nearly perfect, allowing just one score on two Bluffton trips inside the 20-yard line.
With the victory, the Lions moved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in HCAC play. Mount St. Joseph will look to carry its momentum into next week's matchup as they welcome Franklin to Cincinnati for Homecoming.
