BLUFFTON – The Wilmington College football team allowed 35 straight points in dropping their season opener to Bluffton Saturday, 49-20, in non-conference action at Alumni Field.

Three different players rushed for touchdowns, including two from running backs. Wilmington only had one rushing touchdown from the running back position all of last year. The Fightin' Quakers finished with 161 yards on 34 carries.  

Sophomore Gino Hinton (Maple Heights, OH/Maple Heights) sprinted 68 yards for his first career touchdown to knot the game at seven, but the Beavers defense stiffened. While Bluffton defense limited the Fightin' Quakers offense, its own offense exploded for five straight scores.

Hinton finished with 89 yards on 12 carries.

Three of Bluffton's first five scores came via shorts fields as the Beavers had scoring drives of 21, 32 and 46 yards.

Wilmington had a chance to keep up early as they drove down to the 10 yard line, trailing 14-7. However, two penalties moved them back and a missed 35 yard field goal brought the drive to a halt.

Offensively, WC turned the ball over three times – two interceptions and one fumble – and quarterback Luke Creditt (Wilmington, OH/Waynesville) was sacked six times.

Creditt finished 20-for-32 passing for 189 yards and two interceptions. He added 45 yards, 42 on his touchdown run, on 13 carries.

Junior P.J. Meyer (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) hauled in a team-high 67 yards on four catches, while junior Tim Murphy (Columbus, OH/Grandview Heights) pulled down a team-high six passes for 47 yards and junior Tyler Tarnowski (Broadview Heights, OH/Breckesville-Broadview Hts.) added five catches for 42 yards.

Senior CJ Thompson (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) led the team with nine tackles, including two for loss, while sophomore Jay Higgins (Hollywood, FL/Cooper City) added seven tackles.

Wilmington (0-1) has a week off before entering Ohio Athletic Conference action play 7 p.m. September 17, hosting Otterbein.