DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University football team (1-0, 0-0 NCAC) opened up the 2026 season at home under the lights on Thursday night, hosting Bluffton (0-1, 0-0 HCAC). The Battling Bishops lit up the scoreboard with 68 points – their most in a game since 2024 – and ran away with a 59-point victory at 68-9. While there were many highlights throughout the night for OWU, junior wide receiver
Jordan Ghant and junior linebacker
Miles Theetge provided the biggest of the night, respectively recording a 79-yard kickoff return and a 99-yard pick six on back-to-back possessions.
The Bishops started hot, taking a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. The Red and Black took the opening kickoff and drove 51 yards to the endzone, capped off by a 21-yard touchdown run from
Mysaun Sanders. Following a 33-yard field goal from the Beavers, the Battling Bishops scored again on their second drive of the game, traversing 85 yards in just five plays ending with a 16-yard touchdown reception by
Quin Schroeder from
C.J. Jackson.
The Red and Black blew the game open in the second quarter, putting up 26 and holding Bluffton scoreless to take a 40-3 lead into the break.
Kenny Thompson Jr. found paydirt first with a three-yard reception from Jackson. Next, it was
Roman Morrison getting into the action on the defensive end of the ball. Three plays after a lost fumble by the Bishops, the freshman linebacker jumped a pass and took it back 25 yards for his first career pick six. Sanders toted his second touchdown of the night 12 yards to the endzone a few minutes later.
Jordyn Bailey ended the half with his first career touchdown, catching a 12-yard pass from Jackson.
Bluffton found the endzone for the first time in the third quarter, scoring on a 30-yard pass to make it 40-9. Ohio Wesleyan would not let the Beavers get to double-digits however, as
Shakil Young blocked the ensuing point-after, resulting in a penalty for Bluffton that pushed the following kickoff back to the 20 yard line. The Battling Bishops took full advantage of the free yardage as Ghant took the kickoff 79 yards to the house.
Miles Theetge then put in his submission for play of the night, picking off a pass on his own one yard line and returning it 99 yards for the touchdown – the second-longest pick six in OWU history – making it 54-9 Bishops before the end of the third quarter.
Ohio Wesleyan added two more scores in the fourth quarter, both through the air with a host of firsts.
Will Kepple pulled down his first career reception and first career touchdown on a three-yard toss from Jackson for the first. Then
Evan Thompson made his first career reception and scored his first career touchdown on the receiving end of
Brady Morrell's first career touchdown pass, a 39-yarder to bring the final scoreline to 68-9.
OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Battling Bishops tallied 536 yards of total offense, 292 on the ground and 244 through the air, recording 29 first downs and scoring seven touchdowns. Starting quarterback
C.J. Jackson was 16-for-24 passing with 205 yards, four touchdown passes, and a long of 42 yards.
Brady Morrell was 1-for-2 with 39 yards and one touchdown. Neither quarterback suffered a sack thanks to the protection of the offensive line.
Two Bishops rushed for over 100 yards.
Giovanni Rufus led the overall ground game with 111 yards on 14 carries.
Mysaun Sanders secured the lead for rushing touchdowns with two, totaling 103 yards on 12 attempts.
Trace Heminger ran for 35 yards on seven attempts.
Dorian Hamilton tallied 33 yards on eight carries.
Kenny Thompson Jr. was one of five members of the receiving corps to score a touchdown for the Red and Black. He had 62 yards on seven catches and one touchdown.
Quin Schroeder secured four receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Jordyn Bailey had two catches for 54 yards and one touchdown, with a long of 42.
Evan Thompson nabbed one reception for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Jordan Ghant tallied 31 yards on one reception.
Will Kepple pulled in one pass for three yards and a touchdown.
Drew Burdine was 8-of-9 on extra points. Ghant returned three kickoffs for a total of 143 yards including a 79-yard touchdown.
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Ohio Wesleyan held Bluffton to 219 yards of total offense, 138 on the ground and 81 through the air, giving up one touchdown and one field goal. OWU subdued the Beavers on third down with a 2-of-14 conversion rate and collected two sacks for 21 yards. The Bishops picked off three passes, taking tow of them back for touchdowns.
Miles Theetge and
Lucas Ward led the team with six tackles each. Theetge had two solos and four assists with one tackle for loss and a 99-yard interception return touchdown. Ward had one solo and five assists with a half tackle for loss.
Ya'Va Harris and
Amarian Thomas each secured two solos and three assists for five tackles. Harris had 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack for a loss of 14 yards.
Carter Kuhn (four assists),
Connor Asbury (four assists),
Jacob Slyh (two solos, two assists),
Jordan Mills (three solos, one assist),
Roman Morrison (one solo, three assists), and
John Metheny (one solo, three assists) all finished with four tackles. Morrison had a 24-yard pick six. Asbury recorded half a sack for a loss of three yards.
Vince Eadicicco collected a half sack for a loss of four yards.
Connor Stephens had an interception, returned for 24 yards.
UP NEXT
The Battling Bishops will be back at Selby Stadium on Saturday, September 12 for Bishop Backers Community Day against John Carroll. Fans are invited to participate in a free tailgate with the City of Delaware police officers and firefighters and OWU public safety officers, and to enjoy free admission to the 1 p.m. game.
