Bluffton's Lovell has another record-setting performace

FINDLAY – The ink wasn't even dry on the school records Bluffton running back Parker Lovell set during the 2026 season when they had to be erased and re-written all over again.In all-league voting, Lovell and Bluffton quarterback Tayte Giesige shared Offensive Player of the Year honors. With Giesige sidelined with an injury, though, Lovell knew he'd have to shoulder a greater load for Friday's Division V, Region 18 playoff game with Creston Norwayne.Let's just say Lovell came through with flying colors.A 6-0, 190-pound senior, Lovell carried 30 times for 458 yards and eight touchdowns in Bluffton's 63-42 win over Norwayne. He scored on runs of 1, 10, 24, 34, 50, 53, 61 and 98 yards during a record-setting performance. In the process Lovell upped his rushing total to 1,869 yards and increased his single-season school records for touchdowns (38) and points (228). Lovell's teammate and all-Ohio lineman Mason Shank, a two-way starter for the Prates, also stablished a school record on Friday with his 50th career start.Lovell, Shank and the Pirates will take their record-setting show on the road this week when they travel to Archbold to face the Blue Streaks in a Division V, Region 18 quarterfinal matchup. Bluffton, the No. 5 seeded team in the Region 18 bracket, is 9-2. No. 4-seeded Archbold is 9-1, its lone loss being to defending Division V state champion and No. 1-ranked (Div. VI) Liberty Center.Even before Liberty Center dropped from Division V, Region 22 was considered one of the best and strongest collections of Division VI teams in the state. That should be in evidence in Friday's quarterfinal round which includes No. 12-seed Patrick Henry (8-3) traveling to No. 4 Columbus Grove (9-1) and No. 7 Carey (7-4) going against No. 2 and unbeaten Lima Central Catholic (10-0).The Grove/Patrick Henry contest will be a rematch of a Week 3 battle that Grove won, 21-14. Carey and LCC will play their game at Lima Shawnee. Spartan Stadium usually serves as LCC's home field, but with Lima Senior hosting Troy in a Division II, Region 8 game on Friday, an alternate site had to be found.Findlay faces a long bus trip with the No. 7-seeded Trojans (7-4), coming off a dominating 54-14 win over North Olmsted, traveling to No. 2-seeded Olmsted Falls (8-2) for a Region 6 quarterfinal game.Three area teams will put their 10-0 records on the line in Friday's regional quarterfinal round. Ottawa-Glandorf will host Medina Buckeye (6-5) in a Division IV, Region 14 matchup, Leipsic will face Pandora-Gilboa (7-4) in a Division VII, Region 26 rematch between those Blanchard Valley Conference schools, and Hopewell-Loudon and Gibsonburg (6-5) will square off, also in Region 26.In other Division VII, Region 26 games, No. 5 Mohawk (10-1) is at No. 4 North Baltimore (9-1) and No. 3 McComb (9-1) will host Edon (10-1).Football PlayoffsDIVISION IINo. 7 Findlay (7-4) at No. 2 Olmsted Falls (8-2)DIVISION IVNo. 9 Medina Buckeye (6-5) at No. 1 Ottawa-Glandorf (10-0)DIVISION VNo. 5 Bluffton (9-2) at No. 4 Archbold (9-1)DIVISION VINo. 12 Patrick Henry (8-3) at No. 4 Columbus Grove (9-1)No. 7 Carey (7-4) at No. 2 Lima Central Catholic (10-0)DIVISION VIINo. 8 Pandora-Gilboa (7-4) at No. 1 Leipsic (10-0)No. 5 Mohawk (10-1) at No. 4 North Baltimore (9-1)No. 7 Gibsonburg (6-5) at No. 2 Hopewell-Loudon (10-0)No. 6 Edon (10-1) at No. 3 McComb (9-1)