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Ottawa University

Billy_Maples_Sterling_FB23_2
24
Kansas Wesleyan KANSAS W 7-3 , 3
27
Winner Ottawa OTTAWA 6-4 , 4
Kansas Wesleyan KANSAS W
7-3 , 3
24
Final
27
Ottawa OTTAWA
6-4 , 4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT F
KANSAS W Kansas Wesleyan 0 14 0 7 3 24
OTTAWA Ottawa 7 7 0 7 6 27

Game Recap: Football |

Football Wins 5th Straight, Upends KWU in Overtime, 27-24

OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University football team snapped its eight game losing streak to Kansas Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at AdventHealth Field with a 27-24 overtime victory. It is OU's first win over KWU since Nov. 1, 2014 and its first overtime victory since Sept. 16, 2017. The win is OU's fifth straight. This winning streak is the Braves longest since OU reeled off eight straight wins in 2014.

Ottawa University running back Wynton Ruth, the reigning KCAC Offensive Player of the Week, needed just 18 yards to rush for over 1,000 yards this season. He finished the game with 96 yards on 20 carries and scored the game winning touchdown in overtime. Ruth has 1,078 yards and is OU's first 1,000 yard rusher since Tanner Staats rushed for 1,276 yards in 2015. His 1,078 yards ranks him 10th all-time in the OU record book in single season rushing.

Ottawa broke the 0-0 tie on its second offensive possession of the game. The Braves put together a seven play, 91 yard drive that ended in a Billy Maples 13 yard touchdown pass to De'Anthony Curtis. Rhett Andersen's extra point kick was good and the Braves led 7-0 with 8:44 to go in the first quarter.

The Braves' defense forced a second straight KWU punt, giving OU's offense the ball on its own 24 yard line. Ottawa drove the ball down to the KWU 32 yard line but a fumble gave the Coyotes the ball with 3:28 to go in the first quarter.

KWU was able to tie the game on its next offensive possession. The Coyotes put together a 13 play, 87 yard drive that took 7:01. Mark Benjamin scored from two yards out. The Talon Cope extra point kick was good and the game was tied 7-7 with 11:27 to go in the first half.

Ottawa responded on its next offensive possession, retaking the lead. Maples ended the eight play, 82 yard drive with an 11 yard touchdown pass to Jayden Johnson. Andersen's extra point kick split the uprights and Ottawa had a 14-7 lead with 7:12 remaining in the second quarter.

Kansas Wesleyan was able to tie the game on its next trip down the field with a 12 play, 68 yard drive to tie the game. Zarek Fewell scored from eight yards out. The Cope extra point kick was good and the game was tied, 14-14, at the half.

The third quarter was a quarter of punts. KWU punted three times and Ottawa twice. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Braves were forced to punt for the third time in the second half but did not have to wait long to get the ball back.

Kyle Reynolds intercepted KWU's Byron McNair at the Brave 44 yard line and returned the ball 23 yards to the KWU 33. Ottawa moved the ball to the KWU 20 yard line and attempted a 37 yard field goal to retake the lead. It was good but a personal foul penalty was called on the Braves. OU tried a 52 yard field goal but it went wide right and KWU took over on its own 35 yard line.

One play later, the Coyotes had their first lead of the game. Benjamin scored on a 65 yard touchdown run. The extra point kick was good and with 7:40 to go in the game, KWU led 21-14.

Ottawa's special teams came up special on the KWU kickoff. Malik Patterson fielded the ball at the OU 14 yard line. He then promptly ran 86 yards for the touchdown. Andersen's PAT kick was good, tying the game 21-21 with 7:27 to go in the game.

Both teams had to punt on their final possessions of the regulation and KWU had the ball on the Brave 25 yard line to start the first overtime period.

The Coyotes moved the ball to the Brave three yard line. On third and goal, James Gladden and Preston Greenwood stopped the KWU ball carrier on the OU two yard line. The Coyotes attempted a field goal but was called for a false start and had to move five yards back. Cope's 23 yard try was good and KWU had a 24-21 lead.

It only took the Braves three rushing attempts by Ruth to find the end zone to end the game.  Ruth ran for 20 yards on his first carry to the KWU five yard line. He ran for two yards on play no. 2 and then found the endzone on his third rushing attempt of the overtime period to give the Braves the 27-24 victory.

Inside the Box Score
  • The Braves had 307 yards of offense, 158 yards through the air and 149 yards on the ground. Kansas Wesleyan finished 170 yards through the air and 204 yards rushing for 374 yards of offense.
  • Billy Maples was 10-for-23 through the air for 158 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for 15 yards.
  • Wynton Ruth led OU with 96 yards on 20 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per rush. He scored one touchdown.
  • Jayden Johnson led OU with four receptions. De'Anthony Curtis had a team high 73 receiving yards. Both had one receiving touchdown.
  • AJ Hemphill led OU with 18 tackles. He had one sack and one pass break up.
  • James Gladden finished with 12 tackles.
  • Kyle Reynolds had nine tackles and one interception.
Who is Next
The Braves (6-4, 4-0) will play Tabor College at AdventHealth Field on Saturday, Nov. 11 in the final game of the regular season. Kick off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
 
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