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2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Friday, November 27, 2009 10:00 AM

Braves hope to keep OU’s ‘historic’ season going

Team faces No. 3 Lindenwood in NAIA quarterfinal matchup Saturday

By GREG MAST, Herald Sports Editor

The Ottawa University football team has been on a roll all season, breaking all kinds of records.

The Braves have set 23 school records this season. The only mark that really counts is the 11-0 record.

This Ottawa team is the winningest team in school history. The fifth-ranked Ottawa squad won its first playoff game in program history Saturday with a thrilling 40-34 come-from-behind win over Hastings College at Peoples Bank Field.

The Braves have a chance to make more history 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the team’s NAIA quarterfinal matchup against No. 3 Lindenwood (11-0) in St. Charles, Mo.

Ottawa can become the first conference team in history to win two playoff games.

“We are on the verge of KCAC (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) history,” sixth-year Ottawa coach Kent Kessinger said. “We have been historic all season.”

No reason to stop now.

This game matches two explosive offenses. Ottawa is the top passing offense in the NAIA at 458 yards per game, third in total offense (516.5) and fifth in scoring (45.6).

Lindenwood leads the nation in scoring (56.0) and second in total offense (518).

Kessinger said the past five weeks Lindenwood has played outstanding football.

“It is an intriguing matchup,” Kessinger said. “It is one step higher in the playoffs. There are no weak sisters [left].”

All the top eight seeds advanced to the quarterfinals.

Kessinger feels Ottawa’s schedule has helped Ottawa prepare for the playoffs.

“We have played physical teams and gone toe-to-toe with them,” Kessinger said. “We have played fast teams and gone toe-to-toe with them. We have fought and clawed to get to the point we are at now.”

Ottawa junior linebacker Josh Hojje, who had 16 tackles against Hastings, said the Braves have put together a game plan to slow down the speedy Lions’ offensive threats.

“In the playoffs, you don’t take anybody lightly,” Hojje said. “We will be ready to play and so will they. They have great athletes. We need to slow them down.”

One thing that is on most fans’ minds is playing at a high level for more than a half.

“We have had some good halves,” Hojje said. “We need to put together four quarters. We have to do that to win. If we do that, we can play with anybody.”

The Ottawa defense is the top team in the NAIA in sacks (46.5).

“We are aggressive,” Hojje said. “It is high risk, high reward.”

For much of the season, the top units go at each other during practice. It helps each unit prepare for the opponent.

Kessinger said the offense doesn’t see anybody faster than Ross Diehl rushing in off the edge.

The defense is matched up against the top two receivers in the NAIA in Clarence Anderson and Corey Schultz.

As always, special teams could be a factor. Both teams have speedy return players.

Lindenwood is tops in kickoff return average (26.6) and fourth in punt returns (15.6).

Hojje said Ottawa’s mindset is positive.

“Come Saturday, we will surprise a lot of people,” he said.

Greg Mast can be reached at sports@ottawaherald.com