By Zach Baker
Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune
Aaron Hurd is a northwest Ohio guy playing in northeast Ohio.
Baldwin-Wallace's junior tight end, a Columbian graduate, said players from this area don't always get the respect they deserve, with so many Yellow Jacket players coming from Cleveland-area schools.
He and B-W cornerback Matt Bowen, a fellow TC grad, have come to feel they are representing not just a school, but an entire region.
"We kinda brag about it, that we can come up and represent not only Columbian, but the northwest [Ohio area]," Hurd said. "We want to show people players from the northwest can play too. It feels good, honestly."
It's not bragging if you back it up.
Hurd leads the Yellow Jackets with 21 catches for 257 yards. Bowen is tied for the B-W lead with 31 solo tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. The 88-yard pick-six against Otterbein not only helped Baldwin Wallace to a 35-34 win over the Cardinals Oct. 9, but propelled Bowen to being selected as the Ohio Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Week.
"I didn't think I'd really have a shot," Bowen said of the award. "I was kind of surprised I got it."
Bowen has gone up against some of the better receivers in the league, including Heidelberg's Mike Preston. He said he's more comfortable this season than in years past.
"I had a really good offseason," Bowen said. "Last year we had a new DB coach (Todd Watts); this year, I know his system."
As for Hurd, he has adjusted well to being a blocker for a potent B-W running game, and also being a receiving threat.
"I'm able to split out," Hurd said. "At Columbian all (the tight ends) did was block. I'm comfortable down in the trenches. Some games, I'll be flexed out 10 times, other games, 35 times."
Hurd said he prefers being a receiver, but will never complain if he's asked to block.
"My preference is winning," he said.
That's something BW has done plenty of in 2010. Heading into Saturday's season finale with crosstown rival John Carroll, the Yellow Jackets sport an 8-2 record, their only two losses coming against perennial league powers Ohio Northern and Mount Union. This comes after a 3-7 season in 2009.
"It's awesome," Bowen said. "Me and Aaron are best friends, we knew we wanted to stick it out. It's nice that we're bringing the Yellow Jackets back to where we should be."
