Braves Carry 2-0 Start Into Matchup With Sterling
Ottawa University enters its matchup with Sterling College with a 2-0 overall record. The Braves opened the 2026 season with a 33-13 victory over Kansas Wesleyan before going on the road and defeating the University of Saint Mary 42-15. Ottawa is 1-0 at home and 1-0 on the road.

Through two games, Ottawa is averaging 37.5 points per game while allowing just 14.0 points per contest. The Braves have outscored their opponents 75-28. OU is averaging 304 yards of offense per game, including 106.5 rushing yards and 197.5 passing yards. Defensively, the Braves have held opponents to 295 yards per game and only 81.5 passing yards per contest.

Ottawa University junior linebacker Ibrahimi Mahdi was named KCAC Defensive Player of the Wee.  Mahdi, who hails from Plano, Texas, finished OU's 42-15 victory over the University of Saint Mary last Saturday in Leavenworth with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. 


Ottawa vs. Sterling Series
Saturday's contest will be the 61st meeting between Ottawa University and Sterling College. The Braves hold a 32-28 advantage in the all-time series. The series dates back more than a century. Ottawa and Sterling first met on Nov. 10, 1922, with Sterling earning a 13-3 victory in Ottawa.

Ottawa has won three of the last five meetings between the two programs. The Braves defeated Sterling 44-41 in 2021, fell 21-6 later that fall, lost 28-13 in 2022, defeated the Warriors 55-17 in 2023 and won 51-20 in 2025. The Braves enter this year's meeting having defeated the Warriors 51-20 at Sterling on Sept. 13, 2025. Last season's 51-20 victory was OU's largest road win over Sterling since defeating the Warriors 62-21 in 1997. Ottawa's longest winning streak in the series is 11 games, spanning the 1957 through 1968 meetings. The Braves have scored 50 or more points against Sterling six times in series history, highlighted by an 82-0 victory in 1965, the largest Ottawa win in the series.

Braves Off to a Fast Start
Ottawa has opened a season 2-0, earning victories by 20 points over Kansas Wesleyan and 27 points over Saint Mary. The Braves' average margin of victory through two games is 23.5 points. The OU defense has been a major factor in the start. Ottawa has forced seven turnovers while committing only two, giving the Braves a plus-five turnover margin through two contests.

Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 40 percent of their passes, going 20-for-50 for 163 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. Ottawa is allowing only 81.5 passing yards per game. The Braves have recorded 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions, nine pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one blocked kick through their first two games.

Luke Edwards has completed 29-of-52 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception. He is averaging 192 passing yards per game. Ottawa quarterbacks have not thrown an interception through the first two games. As a team, OU is 30-for-54 for 395 yards and four touchdowns.

Amiri Mumba has made the most of his opportunities in the OU backfield. He leads the Braves with 105 rushing yards on 16 attempts, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Mumba has already rushed for five touchdowns in two games and leads Ottawa with 30 points scored. He is averaging 15 points per contest. Rowdy Keith has added two rushing touchdowns and one receiving score. He is second on the team with 20 points. Ottawa has scored seven rushing touchdowns through two games.

AJ Moore leads the Braves with nine receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 17.1 yards per reception and 77 receiving yards per game. De'Anthony Curtis has caught seven passes for 112 yards, averaging 16 yards per reception. Brian McKoy has three receptions for 59 yards and leads OU's regular receivers with an average of 19.7 yards per catch. Keith has three receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown, while Zayne Nowak has one catch for three yards and a score.

Defense Creating Opportunities

Ethan Yinger and Cade Monroe are tied for the team lead with 17 tackles apiece. Yinger has 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery, while Monroe has 0.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup.
Kage Castling is right behind them with 14 tackles, while Jacob Hill has 13. Ibrahimi Mahdi, Jacob Bajek and Gabe Watson have 11 tackles apiece. Abdullhi Mahdi has five tackles, one sack, an interception and a pass breakup. Daniel Walker also has an interception and a forced fumble. Ottawa has intercepted four passes through two games, with Monroe, Abdullhi Mahdi and Walker among the Braves who have recorded picks.

Special Teams Notes

Joshua Iraheta has punted 12 times for 486 yards, averaging 40.5 yards per punt with a long of 49 yards. Seven of his punts have been downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Hagan Johnson has two kickoff returns for 60 yards, including a long of 50 yards. McKoy is averaging 18.5 yards per punt return, with two returns for 37 yards and a long of 37.

By the Numbers

75-28 — OU's scoring advantage through two games.
37.5 — Points per game by the Braves.
14.0 — Points per game allowed by Ottawa.
+5 — Ottawa's turnover margin.
4 — Interceptions by the OU defense.
0 — Interceptions thrown by Ottawa quarterbacks.
5 — Rushing touchdowns by Amiri Mumba.
32-28 — Ottawa's all-time record against Sterling.

Sterling enters the matchup with an 0-2 overall record and has not yet played a conference game. The Warriors are 0-1 at home and 0-1 on the road. Sterling opened the season with a 41-28 loss at Tabor on Aug. 29 before falling 42-13 to Evangel on Sept. 5. 

The Warriors are averaging 302.0 yards of offense per game, including 103.0 rushing yards and 199.0 passing yards.

Sterling Offense

Steven Werking has appeared in both games at quarterback. He is 15-for-28 for 232 yards and one touchdown, but has thrown three interceptions.

Zachary Isaak has also seen action under center. He is 15-for-21 for 199 yards and a touchdown, completing 71.4 percent of his attempts.

Sterling has used several players in its rushing attack. Stephenson Kennard leads the Warriors with 58 yards on 16 attempts, averaging 3.6 yards per carry.

Khyaire Hines leads Sterling with 120 receiving yards on six receptions, averaging 20.0 yards per catch with a long reception of 40 yards.

Sterling Defense

Kenny Dominguez leads the Sterling defense with 23 total tackles, recording 11 solo stops and 12 assists. He also has a tackle for loss.

Dutton Taylor has recorded 18 tackles and leads the Warriors with 3.0 tackles for loss.

Landon Pfannenstiel and Sean Watson have 15 tackles apiece. Pfannenstiel has 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack.

Special Teams

Emmanuel Roman is 5-for-6 on extra-point attempts and has scored five points.

James Henisey has punted for 217 yards with a 36.2-yard average and a long of 62 yards.

Jordan McGowan has handled the majority of Sterling's kickoff returns, totaling 73 yards on four returns for an 18.3-yard average.

Wyatt Newberry has two punt returns for 19 yards, averaging 9.5 yards per return.

Players to Watch
QB Steven Werking — 232 passing yards, 1 TD; 1 rushing TD
QB Zachary Isaak — 199 passing yards, 71.4 completion percentage, 1 TD
WR Khyaire Hines — 6 receptions, 120 yards, 20.0 yards per catch
WR Noah Khokhar — 4 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD; 1 rushing TD
LB Kenny Dominguez — 23 tackles
Dutton Taylor — 18 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss
DB Jaquan Lowman — 2 interceptions, 84 return yards, 4 pass breakups