WINFIELD, Kan. – The Ottawa University football team dropped a tough one on Saturday night to no. 11 Southwestern College, 24-22, at Richard L. Jantz Stadium.
Ottawa took the early lead on its first drive of the game.
Rhett Andersen connected on a 29 yard field goal with 12:19 to go in the first quarter and OU led 3-0.
Southwestern answered that field goal with one of its own. The Moundbuilders put together a 12 play, 67 yard drive that took most of the first quarter. Preston Fashner connected on a 25 yard field goal, tying the game at three apiece.
The Moundbuilder took their first lead of the game at the 14:55 mark in the second quarter. Braden Howell threw a 28 yard touchdown pass to Josh Edson. The Fashner extra point attempt was good and SWC had a 10-3 lead.
Neither team was able to find the endzone for the remainder of the second quarter and the Moundbuilders took a 10-3 lead into the locker room.
Southwestern extended its lead over the Braves with 7:24 left in the third quarter. Howell threw a 20 yard touchdown pass to Andre Jones. The extra point attempt was good and SWC led 17-3.
OU tried to cut into the SWC lead on its next drive. But the 39 yard Andersen field goal attempt was blocked with 3:47 left in the third to preserve SWC's 17-3 lead.
Ottawa was able to cut into the Southwestern lead with 1:51 left in the third, thanks to the short field given to the OU offense by the Brave special teams. OU was forced to punt and
Trevor Bywater sent the ball 51 yards down the field.
The Moundbuilders fumbled the punt return and the ball was recovered by Issac Gibson on the SWC 24 yard line. Four plays later, the Braves found the endzone for the first time in 2023.
Billy Maples ran the ball in from five yards out. Andersen's extra point attempt was good and with 14:33 left in regulation, Ottawa was within 17-10 of the Moundbuilders.
Ottawa's defense forced a Southwestern punt but the Braves were not able to tie the game and was forced to punt themselves. On SWC's second offensive possession of the fourth quarter, the Moundbuilders were able to extend their lead to 24-10 with 7:37 left in the fourth quarter.
The Braves answered the Moundbuilders' touchdown with one of their own. OU put together a seven play, 75 yard drive that ended in a
Wynton Ruth three yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was blocked and with 4:49 left in regulation, Ottawa trailed 24-16.
On Southwestern's next offensive possession, the Braves came away with the take away.
Kyle Reynolds picked off Howell at the Brave 40 yard line and the OU offense took over with 3:53 left in the fourth.
Five plays later,
Derrick Curtis found the endzone from four yards out to put OU within 24-22. The two point conversion attempt was just short of the goal line and with 1:58 on the clock, the Braves trailed the Moundbuilders 24-22.
The missed two point conversion meant that the Braves had to try an onside kick. It was successful and the OU offense took over on its own 48 yard line. The Braves' offense, however, was not able to cross the goal line and turned the ball over on downs. Southwestern was able to run out the clock, taking the 24-22 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Ottawa finished the night with 254 yards of offense, 149 yards passing and 105 yards rushing. Southwestern had 61 yards rushing and 255 yards passing for 316 yards of offense.
- Billy Maples led the Braves with 42 yards rushing and one touchdown. He was also 11-for-28 through the air for 149 yards.
- Jayden Johnson had five receptions for 104 yards. Anterrio White finished with three receptions for 16 yards.
- AJ Hemphill led the Braves with 12 tackles.
- James Gladden had 11 tackles and Kyle Reynolds finished with 10 tackles.
Who is Next
Ottawa (0-1) hosts Friends University in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 2. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
