The Ottawa University football team enters its matchup against Avila University riding a three-game winning streak and looking to remain unbeaten in KCAC Kessinger Division play. The Braves are 6-3 overall and 3-0 in divisional action following a 59-14 victory over Bethany College on Saturday. The Braves have been one of the NAIA's most productive passing teams this season, averaging 311.3 passing yards per game, ranking sixth nationally. Ottawa is averaging 37.1 points and 415.4 yards of total offense per contest. Ottawa has been particularly effective in its first three Kessinger Division games, averaging 44 points and 515.3 yards of offense per game. The Braves have also averaged 373.7 passing yards per contest in divisional play.
Ottawa Quick Hits: Ottawa enters the matchup with an overall record of 6-3 and a 3-0 mark in the KCAC Kessinger Division. The Braves are riding a three-game winning streak, defeating Evangel, Tabor, and Bethany. OU is 2-2 on the road this season. Ottawa is averaging 37.1 points per game, ranking 23rd in the NAIA. The Braves rank 28th nationally in total offense, averaging 415.4 yards per game. Ottawa ranks sixth in the NAIA in passing offense with 311.3 yards per game. The Braves have scored 334 points through nine games. Ottawa has scored 30 or more points in seven of its nine games. The OU defense is allowing 24.9 points and 357.1 yards per game. The Braves have forced 22 turnovers this season, including 12 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. Ottawa has recorded 22 sacks and 61 tackles for loss. The Braves have held opponents to a 32 percent conversion rate on third down. Ottawa is coming off its highest-scoring performance of the season, scoring 59 points against Bethany.
Ottawa Offensive Leaders:
Luke Edwards has completed 123 of 204 passes for 1,811 yards, 17 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Edwards has a completion percentage of 60.3 percent and is averaging 258.7 passing yards per game.
Malakai Hudson leads the Braves with 469 rushing yards on 90 carries, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. Hudson has scored eight rushing touchdowns.
Anthony Powell has rushed for 176 yards on 39 carries and has two touchdowns. Ottawa has rushed for 937 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
Jayden Johnson leads the Braves with 65 receptions for 957 yards and nine touchdowns. Johnson is averaging 136.7 receiving yards per game and 14.7 yards per reception.
De'Anthony Curtis has caught 44 passes for 632 yards and four touchdowns.
AJ Moore has recorded 42 receptions for 489 yards and four touchdowns. Ottawa has five players with at least three receiving touchdowns this season.
Ottawa Defensive Leaders:
Cade Monroe leads the Braves with 68 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Monroe has also recorded an interception and a forced fumble.
Ethan Yinger has registered 64 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and a blocked kick.
Jacob Hill has 48 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, and three fumble recoveries.
Gabe Watson has recorded 43 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and a team-high 4.5 sacks.
Ibrahimi Mahdi has 40 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Ethan Gardner leads Ottawa with three interceptions and has four pass breakups. The Braves have limited opponents to 163.3 passing yards per game. Ottawa's defense has intercepted 12 passes while allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 49 percent of their attempts.
Ottawa Special Teams:
Ike Prengel has connected on 35 of 38 extra-point attempts and five field goals this season. His longest successful field goal is 43 yards.
De'Anthony Curtis has returned nine kickoffs for 263 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown return. He has also returned seven punts for 102 yards and a touchdown.
AJ Moore has returned six kickoffs for 174 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown.
Hagan Johnson has returned 11 kickoffs for 211 yards. Ottawa is averaging 21.8 yards per kickoff return and 15.4 yards per punt return. The Braves have scored three special teams return touchdowns this season.
Series History: Avila leads the all-time series against Ottawa, 6-2. The two programs first met on Oct. 20, 2018, with Avila earning a 25-21 victory. The Eagles won the first five meetings between the programs before Ottawa earned its first series victory on Oct. 28, 2023, defeating Avila 42-17 at the Z in Kansas City, Mo. After Avila earned a 26-13 victory in 2024, the Braves responded with a dominating 37-0 shutout on Nov. 8, 2025. The victory was Ottawa's first home win against Avila and its first shutout in series history.
Avila University enters its matchup against Ottawa University with a 4-5 overall record and a 2-1 mark in KCAC Kessinger Division play. The Eagles are coming off a 35-20 victory over Bethel College on Saturday, Oct. 31, and have won two of their last three games.
Avila has posted a 3-2 record at home. The Eagles opened the year with three consecutive losses before earning their first victory, defeating the University of Saint Mary 30-24 on Sept. 19. Avila followed with a 47-21 win over Sterling College on Sept. 26. After falling to Southwestern College 19-14 on Oct. 3, the Eagles bounced back with a 36-14 victory over Bethany College on Oct. 17. Avila then suffered a 44-7 loss to Evangel University before defeating Bethel.
Avila Offense: Through nine games, the Eagles are averaging 23.8 points and 348.6 yards of total offense per contest. Avila has accumulated 3,137 yards of offense, including 1,366 rushing yards and 1,771 passing yards. The Eagles are averaging 151.8 rushing yards and 196.8 passing yards per game.
Passing: Quarterback Joseph Vick leads Avila's passing attack. Vick has completed 122 of 191 passes for 1,536 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has a completion percentage of 63.9 and averages 170.7 passing yards per game. His longest completion of the season is 88 yards. John Angelo has appeared in six games, completing 21 of 50 passes for 166 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Rushing: Damian Dickenson leads Avila's ground game with 611 rushing yards on 102 attempts, averaging six yards per carry. Dickenson has scored three rushing touchdowns and averages 67.9 yards per game.Patrick Anderson Jr. has added 487 rushing yards on 97 carries, averaging five yards per attempt. Anderson leads the Eagles with four rushing touchdowns. Vick has also contributed to the rushing attack with 178 net yards and one touchdown on 72 carries.
Receiving: Chrishawn Adams has been Avila's biggest offensive threat through the air. Adams leads the Eagles with 551 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 25 receptions. He averages 22 yards per catch and has a season-long reception of 73 yards. Javrin Singleton leads the team with 28 receptions for 322 yards and four touchdowns. Singleton averages 11.5 yards per reception. Jamal Streeter has added 151 receiving yards on 10 catches, including an 88-yard reception.
Avila Defense: Defensively, Avila is allowing 31.8 points and 396.7 yards of total offense per game. Opponents are averaging 203.7 rushing yards and 200.1 passing yards per contest. The Eagles have recorded 44 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, five interceptions and seven fumble recoveries through nine games.
Defensive Leaders: Braden Purifoy leads Avila with 67 total tackles, including 44 solo stops and 23 assisted tackles. Purifoy has recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. Andreas Hampton ranks second on the team with 55 tackles, including 39 solo stops. Hampton has added 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. Jamari Vaughn is third on the team with 51 tackles, including two tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery. Christion Browner has recorded 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and five pass breakups. Max Grimes leads the Eagles with six tackles for loss and is tied for the team lead with three sacks. Cordell Holley has also recorded three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Avila Special Teams: Tanner Steenbock handles the punting duties for Avila. He has punted for 1,892 yards with an average of 40.3 yards per punt. Steenbock has placed 18 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line and has a season-long punt of 61 yards. Kole Krejny has made one of four field goal attempts, with a long of 31 yards, and has converted seven of nine extra-point attempts. Javrin Singleton leads Avila in kickoff return yardage with 220 yards on 10 returns, averaging 22 yards per return.
