10/24/2009 1:09:00 AM
Cougars fall in physical game with Ottawa-Glandorf
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BY CINDY WOOD
Times Bulletin Correspondent
Billed all week as the big game, high-school football fans were expecting smashmouth football when Ottawa-Glandorf met up with Van Wert at Eggerss Stadium Friday evening. Both teams came in at 5-2 in the league, and both were fighting for a spot in the second season. The Titans took that step last night, powering out a 36-14 win over Van Wert.
Brandon Kuhlman set the mood early on when he broke open for a 69-yard touchdown run on the Titans' first play from scrimmage. After a 3 and out from Van Wert, Ottawa lined up for its play at their own 31-yard line. Quarterback Nathan Kahle pitched it out to Brandon Kuhlman, who ran virtually untouched down the field and 69 yards later, Ottawa put up the first six points of the game just over two minutes into the game.
The extra point went left, and O-G led by 6.
Van Wert's second series produced a first down, but nothing more, and the Cougars punted it away again. O-G used its ground game in its next series, looking to backs Brandon Kuhlman and Logan Kaufman. Running straight ahead, O-G grinded out 72 yards on 8 plays capped off by Kaufman's touchdown run from seven yards out. Kahle attempted to run in the two-point conversion but the Cougar defense stopped him short, and the Titans led 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Van Wert kept in the thick of things, though, and put together its first scoring drive four minutes into the second quarter. Van Wert's quarterback Corey Clifton found Austin Fleming across the middle for a first down, and two plays later completed a 20-yard pass play to Nathan Williams on a 3rd and 21, putting the Cougars on O-G's 18-yard line. Connor Massillo sealed the deal with an 18-yard touchdown run at the 8:27 mark of the second quarter. Van Wert's first extra point was no good, and Van Wert trailed O-G 12-6.
It was an aggressive first half for both teams, but more so for O-G, a factor that led to the game's outcome said Van Wert Head Coach Bob Priest.
"Give a lot of credit to O-G tonight," Priest said after the loss. "They were the more physical team tonight, and they just completely shut down our running game. We felt confident coming into the game but you can't draw up how physical and strong a team is going to be. We had out defense on the field a lot and you just can't have that. That basically just sums it up. They were more physical on both sides of the football."
Ottawa-Glandorf scored again before the half, on a scoring drive that started on their own 17-yard line. Kahle would march the Titans down the field, and was successful in hitting several passes in the flat. Kahle capped the drive with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Kuhlman at the 1:42 mark, and then ran in the 2-point conversion, sending the Titans into halftime with a 20-6 lead.
O-G struck again in the 3rd quarter at the 9:58 mark when Logan Kaufman ran it in from 3 yards out. Kuhlman's run was good, and O-G was up 28-6.
Van Wert battled back again, and stayed in the game when Fleming, in at quarterback, capped off a scoring drive with a 1-yard dive into the end zone. His two-point conversion pass to Austin Reichert was complete, and Van Wert crawled back into it, trailing 28-14.
O-G's final score came with just over 6 minute to go in the game when Brandon Kuhlman scored from 3 yards out, producing the 36-14 win. O-G Head Coach Ken Schriner expected a touch match-up with Van Wert, and he got it, he said after the win.
"We were a little concerned with the option coming in because we hadn't seen that much this year. Van Wert is young, but an extremely good team. Our goal is to just keep improving week to week and I think we've done that. We're glad to get out of here with a win."
With the win, Ottawa looks to Celina next Friday while Van Wert will prepare for a tough match-up with Shawnee.
"Our kids want to have a winning season, and that's what we're going to shoot for," Priest said. "We have made many many strides this season, and we're going to hold our heads high and shoot for a winning season."
Score by quarters
VW 0 6 8 0 14
OG 12 8 8 8 35
Scoring summary
1st quarter
OG, 9:38, 69-yard run, Brandon Kuhklman, kick no good
OG, :16, 7-yard run Logan Kaufman, run no good
2nd quarter
Van Wert, 8:27, 18-yd run Connor Massillo, kick no good
OG, 1:42, 34-yard pass, Kahle to Kuhlman, run good
3rd quarter
OG, 9:58, 3-yd run, Kaufman, Kuhlman run good
Vw, 2:06, 1-yard run, Fleming, pass to Reichert good
4th
OG, 6:11, 3-yard run, Kuhlman, pass good
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