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2010-03-10

2010-03-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:33 PM

Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald

Ottawa High School sophomore defensive tackle James Peoples sacks Saint Thomas Aquinas senior quarterback Richard Davila Friday night during Ottawa’s home game against the Saints. Ottawa, coming off a 21-6 loss to the state-ranked Saints, play Friday at Pittsburg, which fell to Gardner in its first district contest.

District foes help build OHS football program

Good prep

By Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor

Ottawa High School coach Marc Bergan feels playing the likes of St. Thomas Aquinas, Pittsburg and Gardner will be a stepping stone for the future.

“I am a big picture guy,” Bergan said. “We are trying to get better. These games will help us get better. We want to win the games.”

Ottawa (1-6, 0-1) plays 7 p.m. Friday at Pittsburg (3-4, 0-1) in the second game of district play.

“They have a storied high school program,” Bergan said. “They know how to win.”

Ottawa is inching up, but the climb has been steep. The Cyclones have made big strides this season, giving all their foes, except Louisburg, a contest.

Bergan said he has heard positive things from opposing coaches all season.

“They hoped we would be bad,” Bergan said with a wry smile.

Ottawa has made opposing teams work with their variation of looks on offense and the 3-4 package on defense.

“We want to make them think,” Bergan said. “Offensively, we want to make them defend the whole field.”

Ottawa’s offense has showed flashes but has lacked the big strike capability.

“It is hard to go 80 yards ... march down the field,” Bergan said.

On the opposite end, the defense has limited opponents’ big plays and made them march against Ottawa.

Bergan said the defense has played solid all season, and the big plays have happened normally when players try to do too much.

“We are not afraid to hit,” Bergan said.

The Ottawa defense slowed down the St. Thomas Aquinas offense, giving up two short scoring drives in the third quarter.

At the end of the season, Ottawa is concentrating more on itself.

“We have to play our game,” he said. “We want to give ourselves a chance to compete.

“If we take care of our business ... the scoreboard will take care of itself. I expect to have a heck of a football game.”

Greg Mast can be reached at sports@ottawaherald.com