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Ottawa University

Santino Gee Punt Block
33
Winner Saint Mary SAINT MA 2-4 , 2-3
23
Ottawa OTTAWA 0-6 , 0-6
Winner
Saint Mary SAINT MA
2-4 , 2-3
33
Final
23
Ottawa OTTAWA
0-6 , 0-6
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SAINT MA Saint Mary 6 13 7 7 33
OTTAWA Ottawa 0 10 0 13 23

Game Recap: Football |

Braves are Downed by Saint Mary, 33-23

OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University football team fell 33-23 to the University of Saint Mary at AdventHealth Field on Saturday afternoon. The Braves finished the game with 463 yards of offense, 375 yards through the air and 88 yards rushing. The Spires had 101 yards passing and 201 yards on the ground for 302 yards of offense.

The Spires struck first, taking a 6-0 lead over the Braves on their first offensive possession of the game. USM put together an eight play, 73 yard drive to take the early lead. After a punt by OU, Saint Mary took its next possession down to the Brave 24 yard line. The Ottawa defense held, forcing a 40 yard field goal. The attempt was short and Ottawa took over.

The Brave offense was not able to hang on to the ball long, turning the ball over on an interception on its own five yard line. Three plays later the Spires extended its lead, scoring on an Erick Covington one yard run. The extra point kick was no good and with 14:57 left in the first half, the Spires had a 12-0 lead.

Ottawa responded on its next offensive possession, putting together a three play, 72 yard scoring drive. Billy Maples connected with James Reeder on a screen. Reeder ran the ball 69 yards for the touchdown. Lewis McMullen's PAT kick was good and at the 13:24 mark the Braves were within 12-7.

The OU defense built upon that momentum, holding USM to a three and out. On the Spires punt attempt, Santino Gee came flying through the Spire line and blocked the punt. That block gave OU the ball on the USM 16 yard line.

The Braves moved the ball to the Spire six yard line before the drive stalled. McMullen came on and attempted a 20 yard field goal. His kick was true and OU trailed 12-10 with 8:41 left in the half.
Ottawa's defense forced another punt attempt by the Spires and the offense took over on its own 20 yard line. Maples found a slashing Cory Jones and just as the Brave was able to cross into the endzone, USM's Keylin Hodge knocked the ball lose for a touchback and USM took over on its own 20 yard line.

The Spires scored quickly, five plays, and found the endzone on a Covington 15 yard touchdown pass to Alejandro Marti. The Spires converted the two point conversion, extending their lead to 19-10 with a little more than four minutes to go in the first half.

OU's offense was not able to answer, turning the ball over on a fumble and USM took over on its own 18 yards line. Three plays later, however, OU's defense tallied another take away. The Spires connected on a 20 yard pass but Devin Johnston ripped the ball out of the receiver's hands and Raymond Cutler recovered it on the Spires 46 yard line. Ottawa was not able to cross the goal in the final minutes of the half and USM took the 19-10 lead into the locker room.

The Braves received the ball to start the second half but were forced to punt. The OU defense stepped up on the Spires first offensive possession of the second half, forcing another turnover. On the seventh play of the Spire drive, Kyle Reynolds stepped in front of a Covington pass, giving the Braves the ball on their own 20 yard line.  

Ottawa's offense was moving the ball but on the sixth play of the drive, Maples was sacked, and lost the ball. The Spires recovered the ball and scored. The extra point was good and Saint Mary led 26-10 with 8:41 left in the third quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Braves cut into the Spire lead. James Reeder scored with 13:46 on the clock to cut into the USM. Ottawa went for two but the attempt failed and the Braves were down 26-16.  

The OU defense forced a three and out and the Brave offense took over on its own 18 yard line. Saint Mary forced an OU turnover, picking up the fumble and returning it for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was good and USM led 33-16.

The Braves were able to cut into the Spire with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Maples to Jones. McMullen's extra point attempt was good and OU was within 33-23 with 1:20 left in the game.

Ottawa attempted an onside kick but it was unsuccessful and USM took over on Ottawa's 45 yard line. OU's defense forced a punt by the Spires and the Braves took over on their own 33 yard line with a minute left in the game. The Braves were not able to find the end zone and Saint Mary took the 33-23 victory.

Inside the Box Score
  • Ottawa had 463 yards of offense while USM finished with 302.
  • OU forced five turnovers, four fumbles and one interception.
  • Billy Maples went 28-for-48 through the air for 375 yards and two touchdowns.
  • James Reeder rushed for 72 yards and one touchdown. He also led OU in receiving with seven receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown. Reeder is OU's first 100 yard receiver since Oct. 23 Dylan Foos had 167 receiving yards against Friends University.
  • AJ Hemphill led OU with 15 tackles.
  • James Gladden had a career high 11 tackles.
  • Jensen Riffel finished with seven tackles and one recovered fumble.
  • Santino Gee had six tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and one punt block.
Who is Next
Ottawa (0-6, 0-6) returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 22 with a road contest against Friends University in Wichita, Kan. Kick off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
 
 
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