Braves' defense corals Lions in road victory
By The Herald Staff
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WAXAHACHIE, Texas — The Ottawa University defense swarmed all over Southwest Assemblies of God Saturday in Waxahachie, Texas.
The Braves limited the Lions to 227 total yards in the 23-3 victory. The defense even scored two points on a safety in the fourth quarter.
The Ottawa offense moved the ball, but stumbled when it got into scoring territory. Ottawa amassed 395 yards, but managed just three touchdowns.
In the fourth quarter, Ottawa drives were stopped by an interception in the end zone, on downs at the Lion 3 and a missed field goal opportunity.
The Ottawa defense was sound all game. The Braves surrendered just 14 first downs.
Linebacker Ross Diehl paced the Braves with nine tackles, including a quarterback sack and two total tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Evander Williams had seven tackles, one for loss.
The Ottawa offense continued to display balance — not only in passing and rushing — but who handles the ball. Ethan Haller was 23 of 37 passing for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Four Brave receivers had three or more receptions.
Ottawa showed its depth in the backfield. Andy Otto went down with an arm injury late in the first half. His senior mate Robbie DuBois did not suit up, so freshman Rashad Tucker filled in with 66 yards on 15 carries.
Even utility player, Kevin Mikeska carried seven times for 24 yards.
Ottawa scored its first touchdown on its second series. The Braves marched 49 yards in 11 plays. Otto scored from the 4 to give Ottawa a 7-0 lead.
The Lions’ best drive of the game came in the second quarter — a 13-play, 67-yard drive. It ended a the Ottawa 10 as the Braves forced a 27-yard field goal.
The score remained 7-3 until early in the third quarter. The defense set the offense up at the Lion 26. Fielding Brenner returned an interception to the 26.
On the first play, Haller tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Chris Davidsmeyer. Ottawa led 14-3.
After the Ottawa defense stymied the Lions at the Southwestern 28, the Braves drove 72 yards in 14 plays.
Haller ends the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Burnett late in the third quarter. Ottawa led 21-3.
Early in the fourth quarter, Michael Cebold’s punt rolled out of bounds at the 2. On second down, Jamison Shaw tackled Zak Martinez in the end zone for a safety.
Ottawa’s next drive ends at the Lions’ 3. Ottawa went 56 yards, all on the ground.
Mikeska had a 32-yard run to the Lion 12 for the big play on the drive, but on fourth down he was stopped just short of the first down.
An interception in the end zone ended Ottawa’s next drive.
The Braves had another drive thwarted because of penalties late in the third and early in the fourth quarter.
Ottawa started the drive at midfield, but two holding penalties negated two big runs and put Ottawa in first and 30 at the 30.
Ottawa (3-1, 2-1) plays Saturday in Salina against Kansas Wesleyan (3-1,2-1). The Coyotes are coming off a 40-0 victory over Southwestern.
Scoring
O — Otto 4 run (Weider kick).
SW — Santibenez 27 FG.
O — Davidsmeyer 26 pass from Haller (Weider kick).
O — Burnett 7 pass from Haller (Weider kick).
O — Shaw tackles Martinez in end zone for safety.
Individuals
Rushing — Ottawa (42-147): Tucker 15-66; Otto 12-39; Mikeska 7-24; Barbour 3-14; SWAG (33-114): Rice 18-103; DuBose 2-11; Martinez 8-10.
Passing — Ottawa: Haller 23-37-2 248; SWAG: Garcia 5-14-0 72; Rice 10-15-1 41.
Receiving — Ottawa: Z. Schultz 5-51; Simms 4-54; Burnett 4-36; Mikeska 3-32; SWAG: Foster 6-26; Howard 3-66; Colvin 3-23.
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