|
|
|
Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Her
The Ottawa University football team’s defense has been stingy all season. The Braves’ defense ranks in the top 20 in the NAIA in five categories. Ottawa has allowed just 17 points in the past two games heading into Saturday’s showdown in Salina against Kansas Wesleyan.
|
Showdown
A lot on line for winner of OU-Wesleyan game
By GREG MAST, Herald Sports Editor
|
|
It is not an ordinary football game. Possible postseason ramifications are on the line.
A possible spot in the NAIA top 25 poll could be one of the prizes of the winner of Saturday’s Ottawa University and Kansas Wesleyan football game in Salina.
Both teams are 2-1 in the conference and 3-1 overall and, in this week’s NAIA poll, are sitting 26th (Kansas Wesleyan) and 27th (Ottawa). The loser will have an uphill climb for a conference championship run.
“This is a conference championship game,” Ottawa coach Kent Kessenger said. “It is a huge game.”
There are several story lines that are sidelines to the contest. Kansas Wesleyan coach Dave Dallas was coach of the Braves for eight seasons in the 1990s.
His son, Drew, the starting quarterback for the Coyotes, grew up in Ottawa before leaving for Salina with his family.
The game has taken on a rivalry significance in the past decade and has grown with the arrival of Kessenger, who is a Bethany graduate. The Swedes and Coyotes are natural rivals with the campuses about 15 miles apart.
The game matches Wesleyan’s power game vs. Ottawa’s spread offense. Both teams sport stingy defenses.
The Coyotes rank second in the NAIA in rushing at 281.5 yards per game. Preston McCorkle leads the conference in rushing at 124 yards per game.
Kessenger said McCorkle has the power to run over defenders and the speed to run away from defenses.
“The key is the offensive line ... it is a very solid group,” he said. “It is a good test for our defense.”
The Ottawa offense is not built around one thing or any special player. Ottawa is averaging 38 points and 433 yards per game.
Ottawa spreads the field in the running and passing attack. Ottawa’s running back depth will be tested with Andy Otto, who will miss the rest of the season with a broken arm.
Kessenger said before the season, he had four good running backs, plus Kevin Mikeska will see time in the backfield this week.
“They all have special talents,” Kessenger said. “We now can put in the next guy.”
The same with the stable of receivers.
“They are all averaging four or five catches a game,” Kessenger said. “We are really balanced with these guys. We can do a lot of different formations. We can be really multiple.”
Greg Mast can be reached at sports@ottawaherald.com.
|
|
To post a comment click here
|
|
|
0 comment(s)
|
|
