Ottawa fell 49-20 to Friends University in the home opener at AdventHealth Field on Saturday evening. OU finished the game with 169 yards passing and 206 yards rushing for 375 yards of offense. Friends had 482 yards on the ground.
Billy Maples went 13-for-28 through the air for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
Derrick Curtis rushed for 105 yards on 15 carries for a 7.8 yard per carry average.
Wynton Ruth averaged 7.8 yards per carry. He had 62 yards rushing on eight carries.
Gunnar Madere led the Braves with five receptions.
Kyle Reynolds led the Braves with 15 tackles.
Tony Davis and James Gadden finished the game with seven tackles apiece.
Derrick Curtis rushed for 105 yards in the loss to Friends last Saturday. Ottawa has had a 100 yard rusher in two out of its last three games.
Jared Daniels had 238 yards rushing against Bethany College in OU's 45-2 win on Nov. 12, 2022 in Lindsborg. Curtis had two 100 yard rushing games in 2021 and three in 20220. He now has a total of six 100 yard rushing games as a Brave. In 2020, Curtis had 255 yards rushing against McPherson College on Oct. 17, 2020, 218 yards against the University of Saint Mary on Oct. 31, 2020, and 130 yards versus Friends University on Nov. 7, 2020. He rushed for 100 yards against Tabor College on Oct. 2, 2021 and 148 yards against Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Aug. 28, 2021.
Derrick Curtis leads the Braves in rushing (118),
Billy Maples is OU's leader in passing yards (313),
Jayden Johnson is the team's leader in receptions (7),
Kyle Reynolds is Ottawa's leader in tackles (25),
James Gladden has 18 tackles, and
AJ Hemphill has 16 tackles.
Saturday is the 74th meeting between Ottawa University and Bethel College. The Braves have lost four straight against the Threshers with OU's last win over Bethel coming on Sept. 1, 2018 at Thresher Stadium, which is Ottawa's last road win over BC, 42-12. OU has a record of 24-10 against Bethel in North Newton, Kan. Ottawa has lost two straight road games against Bethel.
