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2010-03-20

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Agriculture

Lifestyles

Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:29 PM

Herald file photo

Ottawa University juniors Josh Hojje (47) and Anthony Giambona (42) combine to take down Kansas Wesleyan University sophomore Rodney Cooper earlier this season. Sixth-ranked Ottawa (9-0) plays 1:30 p.m. Saturday in a key NAIA and conference game in Wichita against No. 13 Friends (8-1). A conference title and NAIA playoff berth is at stake. Plus, the Braves remember last year’s 45-44 loss to the Falcons.

Ottawa-Friends: A delightful matchup

Redemption time

By Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor

It is nearly time for the most anticipated football game of the season in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Ottawa and Friends have been on a collision course since the last time the two met. The rivals played a whale of a game early in the 2008 season with the Falcons nipping Ottawa 45-44.

The Ottawa players have been driven by that loss for the rest of the 2008 and all of the 2009 season.

The two will meet at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Wichita. It is one of the marquee games in the final weekend of the NAIA season.

It matches No. 6 Ottawa (9-0, 8-0) and No. 13 Friends (8-1, 7-1). A lot is riding on the outcome — a KCAC title and NAIA playoff berths.

Ottawa is trying to become the first team in the 113-year program to go 10-0, while Friends needs a victory to win its fourth straight KCAC title and earn a playoff berth.

For Ottawa, it is a chance at redemption.

“We want the whole pie, not a piece of it,” senior offensive lineman Julian Mendez said. “We need to play our game. Fundamentals will win this game.”

Senior offensive lineman Matt Pennington said this game has been in the back of all of the Braves’ minds for a long time.

“This is huge,” Pennington said. “Being 10-0 ... the first team ... that will be our greatest moment.”

This has been a special season for the Braves, who have broken 19 school records, gaining their second-highest ranking in the NAIA poll at No. 6, and gaining at least a share of the KCAC title.

But there is some unfinished business.

Ottawa senior defensive lineman Jamison Shaw said the Braves have been waiting for this chance.

On paper, it appears the best matchup could be Ottawa’s top-ranked offense (531 yards) versus Friends’ second-ranked defense (198).

Kessinger feels it could come down to the other matchup of Ottawa’s defense against the Friends offense.

“Our defense is playing solid,” Kessinger said. “We matchup well with them.”

The coach said Ottawa, without the 41 points surrendered to McPherson, the Braves defense is giving up 13 points per game and leads the nation in quarterback sacks (38.5).

The other matchup is star-studded. The Ottawa offense is engineered by senior quarterback Ethan Haller, who leads the nation at 407 yards passing per game.

Corey Schultz and Clarence Anderson are the top two receivers in the nation at 1,158 and 1,124. Schultz needs one catch and Anderson two to tie the school record of 65 catches in a season.

Friends’ defense is solid, especially upfront.

“They have two outstanding defensive ends,” Kessinger said.

The X factor could be special teams. Ottawa continually has improved all of its special teams.

“Special teams will be huge,” Kessinger said. “It will be a three-facet game.”

Notes: The NAIA playoff selections can be viewed live 1:30 p.m. Sunday at www.collegefanz.com/livestream.jspa . ... Ottawa has not defeated Friends since Kessinger became head coach. Ottawa’s last win came in 2003 when the Braves won their KCAC title. ... Ottawa has won or shared 19 conference titles in school history ... Ottawa is ranked in the top-10 in 12 different team categories and 22 individual in the NAIA.

Greg Mast can be reached at sports@ottawaherald.com