Defiance to Meet In-State Rival Bluffton for 89th Time Saturday

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets (3-6, 3-4 HCAC) will host Bluffton University (3-6, 3-4 HCAC) for the 89th meeting in the history of the Battle for the Hammer. The game between the Yellow Jackets and the Beavers is set for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff inside of Justin F. Coressel Stadium.

Defiance leads Bluffton in the Battle for the Hammer, hold a narrow margin in the series history with 44 wins to 42 losses. The teams have tied twice in the series history. Bluffton holds a 7-6 series lead since both schools have been in the HCAC, dating back to 2000.

Saturday's battle between Bluffton and Defiance will be for fifth place in the HCAC final standings as both teams sit at 3-4 in conference play heading into the final week.

The Yellow Jackets will also recognize 15 seniors on Senior Day this weekend.

Defiance is coming into Saturday's game riding a three-game skid. The previous nine games for DC in 2013 have been in sets of three. The Yellow Jackets reeled off three-straight victories in the middle of the year after starting the season 0-3.

Tony Sierra continues to build on an excellent senior campaign at corner back for the Yellow Jackets. The Warren, Mich. native has 36 tackles on the year, including 2.5 tackles for a loss. Sierra leads the nation with 25 passes defended (2.8 per game). Sierra is also ranked among the nation's best with five interceptions on the season.

Senior wide receiver Brian Mircovich is approaching 100 receptions and 1000 yards for his career. Mircovich needs five catches and 35 yards on Saturday to meet the marks.

Series History
Saturday's meeting will be the 89th meeting in the history of the two rivals. Defiance holds a narrow 44-42-2 series advantage over the Beavers.

Last season the Yellow Jackets fell to Bluffton in a double overtime thriller, 27-24. The Yellow Jackets have dropped the last three games to Bluffton. In the HCAC era, Bluffton holds a 7-6 advantage over Defiance. The current streak is the longest in that time period.

Year-by-Year (HCAC era)
Year    Win     Score    
2012   BU       27-24
2011   BU       46-27
2010   BU       21-16
2009   DC       35-0
2008   DC       27-13
2007   BU       22-21
2006   DC       20-6
2005   DC       41-14
2004   BU       30-0
2003   DC       37-19
2002   DC       29-6
2001   BU       21-16
2000   BU       31-30

Mircovich surpasses 40 & 400
Wide Receiver Brian Mircovich reached 40 receptions and 400 yards receiving in the last game for the Yellow Jackets against Franklin.  Mircovich reached the mark in his ninth game for the Purple and Gold  this season and sits at 420 yards of offense receiving on 43 catches.

The senior had a big game last week at Franklin, catching six balls for 58 yards. He accounted for two first downs with his catches, including a catch that went for 31 yards.  Mircovich has also caught a touchdown on the season.

The senior has played in 27 games for the Purple and Gold in his career. Mircovich has 95 grabs in his career for 965 yards. He has averaged 10.2 yards per catch in his career with five touchdowns.

Sierra among nations best
Tony Sierra continues to build on an excellent senior campaign at corner back for the Yellow Jackets. The Warren, Mich. native has 36 tackles on the year, including 2.5 tackles for a loss.

Sierra leads the nation with 25 passes defended (2.8 per game). Sierra is also ranked among the nation's best with five interceptions on the season.

In his career, Sierra has grabbed 14 interceptions in 41 games. Sierra has also defended 53 passes for his career along with recording 159 tackles. Sierra has five returns for touchdowns in his career, two in the punt return game, two via interceptions, and one on a fumble.

Leverenz in backfield often
Senior defensive lineman Andrew Leverenz has been in the backfield all season for the Yellow Jackets defense. The defensive end has been stellar with 47 tackles, including 13 for a loss that have totaled 100 yards. Leverenz has proven to be able to get to the quarterback as he also has 7.5 sacks for 84 yards and he has forced two fumbles.

For his career, Leverenz has played in 29 games for the Purple and Gold, totaling 117 tackles. Leverenz has compiled 37.5 tackles for a loss, including 19.5 sacks, that have totaled 210 yards. He also two fumbles forced with two fumble recoveries. He has also picked up a block in his career.

'Spence'tacular
Aaron Spence has also done a nice job for the Yellow Jackets this season in the punting game. He has punted away 56 balls on the year, averaging nearly 37 yards a punt.  Three times he has booted one away for over 50 yards and 14 times he has pinned the opponent inside the 20.

For his career, Spence has totaled 4,658 yards in punts in just 24 games as a punter, with a career long of 67. Spence has 33 punts that have pinned opponents inside the 20 with only five touchbacks. He also has had nine punts go for 50 yards or more. Spence has also never had a punt blocked in his career.

He has also been key in the offensive attack in his career. Spence has thrown for 253 yards, rushed for 459 yards and caught passes for 122 yards. He has three career TDs.