2003 Football

All-Heartland Conference

Nine players named All-HCAC; Chris Sommers selected 1st team for third time

By Scott VanEman, SID assistantNovember 19, 2003BLUFFTON, OHIO - Nine Bluffton College football players received Heartland Conference
honors for their play during the 2003 season. Heartland Conference honors were voted
on at the end-of-the-year HCAC coaches meeting held earlier this week. Bluffton finished
the 2003 season with a 2-8 overall record and a 0-6 mark in conference action.

Earning first team honors for Bluffton were senior Chris Sommers (Delphos/Jefferson) and sophomore Ben Dodds (West Liberty/Bellefontaine). The selection is Sommer's third, making him a first
team All-HCAC selection in all three of his years at Bluffton after transferring from
Tiffin . Dodds' first team selection is the first of his career.

Sommers once again led the Beavers and all HCAC players in tackles, recording 115
for the season. He also posted three tackles for a loss, four pass breakups and one
forced fumble during the 2003 campaign. Dodds was Bluffton's leading rusher this season,
amassing 1,049 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Dodds also ranked second on
the squad in pass receptions with 34 for 266 yards and one touchdown. Dodds was among
the leaders in several offensive categories in the HCAC. He ranked 2nd in rushing,
9th in total offense (1,049), 1st in all purpose yards (1,975), 2nd in kick return
average (22.8), and1st in scoring (78 points).

Four Bluffton players took home second team All-HCAC honors including senior Pat Craun (Sidney/Sidney), junior Mark Gable (Alvordton/Hilltop), sophomore Jared Owens (VanWert/Crestview) and junior Scott Steiner (Berne, Ind./South Adams). It is the first selection for Craun, Gable and Owens and
the second consecutive second team All-HCAC selection for Steiner.

Craun ranked fourth on the team in tackles this season with 58 and tied for second
on the team in sacks with three. He also added seven tackles for a loss, one interception,
four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries during the 2003 season. Gable led the
Beavers in pass receptions this season with 35 for 518 yards and two touchdowns. Owens
posted 1,388 passing yards and four touchdowns for the campaign, completing 57.2 percent
of his passes for a 110.96 pass efficiency rating. He also added 445 yards and six
touchdowns on the ground this season. Steiner ranked third in tackles this year with
65 and tied for first on the team with nine tackles for a loss. He also added one
sack, and five pass breakups during the 2003 season.

Fisher was third on the team in receiving this year, hauling in 23 passes for 332
yards and one touchdown. He also led Bluffton in punting returning with nine returns
for 73 yards, averaging 8.1 yards per return. Lloyd recorded 30 tackles in eight games
including four tackles for a loss and two pass breakups. Tabler posted 34 tackles
during the 2003 season and tied for second on the team in both sacks with three and
tackles for a loss with nine.