Braves overpower Coyotes 34-14
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

OTTAWA – Ottawa University turned the tides on the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes, beating them at what they do best, running the ball. It was the Braves who dominated the ground game, rushing for 296 yards as Ottawa beat the Coyotes 34-14 on Saturday afternoon at Peoples Bank Field.

Ottawa jumped out to a 3-0 lead on its second drive and Casey Wieder hit a 33-yard field goal to cap a nine-play, 37-yard drive with 7:32 to go in the first quarter.

The Coyotes would answer on the ensuing drive when Drew Dallas would hit Jason Dolan on an 11-yard fade to the left side of the end zone for the score. Troy Van Blarcom would hit the PAT, making it 7-3 at the 1:33 mark in the first.

The Coyotes would take over the ball following a punt to start the second quarter, but could get no further than the OU-45, when Earl Moorning broke up a pass from Dallas to Marcus Lowe that ricocheted to Kevin Stewart for the interception.

Ottawa would get into Coyote territory on its ensuing drive, but the drive would stall at Wesleyan’s 45-yard line and Michael Cebold’s punt would find the endzone for a touchback.

Wesleyan would drive to the OU-32, where Dallas’ pass to Derryl Hill was incomplete, forcing a field goal attempt, but Van Blarcom’s kick was low and was blocked by Jon Krystiniak at the OU-34.

On Ottawa’s drive, the Braves made it to midfield on a carry by Robbie DuBois, but a holding penalty would negate the play and send the Braves back to the OU-24. Wesleyan then committed a penalty of its own, giving the Braves first down at the 39. Ottawa would commit three more penalties on the drive, but Jason Thomas would find Trevor Anderson wide open over the middle for a 51-yard touchdown play, and Wieder’s kick made it 10-7 Ottawa with 2:23 left.

Ottawa would take the 10-7 into the halftime break.

Wesleyan (3-2, 2-2) would take the ball to open the second half, but could get no further than its own 40-yard line. Clay DuBois would enter to punt for the first time in two weeks, and boomed a 60-yard kick for a touchback.

It only took Ottawa one play to score on its next drive, as Andrew Otto broke several poor tackles by Wesleyan defenders and went 80-yards for the score. Wieder’s kick made it 17-7 Braves at the 13:01 mark in the third.

The Coyotes appeared to have a good drive going, but a holding penalty on third and 11 gave Wesleyan a third and 21 at the KWU-47, where Dallas’ pass for Preston McCorkle was incomplete, and DuBois’ punt was downed at the Ottawa 14.

A 13-yard run by Robbie DuBois opened the drive for the Braves, but Ottawa (3-2, 2-2) would again turn to the big play as DuBois would go 64 yards for the score. Again, several Wesleyan players had chance to make the stop, including a last ditch effort by Brandon McGinn that was easily shrugged off by DuBois as he jaunted in for the score. Wieder’s kick would complete the four-play, 86-yard drive and make it 24-7 with 8:45 to go in the third.

Wesleyan went nowhere on its next drive, giving the ball back to the Braves after losing six yards on the drive, and gave the ball back to Ottawa with 6:06 to go.

Ottawa appeared to be driving for another score, but Matt Case would stop DuBois on a fourth and about six inch play at the KWU-3, giving the ball back to the Coyotes on downs.

The Coyotes would then put together an impressive 97-yard drive, capped by a 67-yard pass from Dallas to Lowe for the touchdown. Van Blarcom’s kick made it 24-14 with 12:40 to go in the fourth.

After a failed Ottawa drive, the Coyotes took over at the KWU-38, but Dallas would give the ball back to Ottawa when Brandon Smith would strip the ball from him on a sack, and Josh Hojje would recover it at the OU-49.

Ottawa would drive to the KWU-11, where Dustin Trimble would sack Thomas for a five-yard loss on third down, and Wieder’s field goal attempt from 33 yards would be wide right.

The Coyotes would give the ball back to Ottawa just two plays later, when Dallas’ pass for Lowe was picked off by Gabe Lopez, who nearly returned it for a score, but McCorkle would make the tackle at the KWU-5.

Ottawa would give the ball back to Wesleyan when Thomas would fumble on a sneak play inside the KWU-1, and Casey Dallas would recover and go down at the KWU-8.

That’s when things went downhill quickly for the Coyotes. Dallas would be sacked for a one-yard loss on the first play, and then he would be called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety and two points for the Braves.

Wesleyan went for the onside kick, but Ottawa would make the cover up at the KWU-35, where the Braves would set up shop again.

Three plays later, all runs by DuBois, the Braves would score from one-yard and a bad snap on the PAT was picked up and Kevin Mikeska would dive into the end zone for the two-point conversion making in 34-14 with 2:11 left.

Dallas would be sacked again on second down, and bad snap from center on third down resulted in a 12-yard loss and Dallas’ last ditch effort on fourth and 26 was broken up by Matt Barney.

Two kneeldowns later, the Braves wrapped up the 34-14 win.

The Wesleyan offensive attack was again balanced, but the Coyotes only managed 273 yards of total offense, meanwhile letting Ottawa rush for a collective 296 yards. McCorkle led the Coyote rushers with 96 yards on 22 attempts, while Steve Valliere would carry eight times for 25 yards. Dallas was 9-of-18 passing for 139 yards, but had two interceptions to go along with two touchdowns, and was sacked five times. Lowe had a breakout game receiving, catching five balls for 121 yards and one score.

Ottawa shredded Wesleyan’s defense for 499 total yards, including the 296 on the ground. The Braves were led by Otto’s 20 carries for 168 yards and one score, while DuBois carried 14 times for 126 yards and two scores. Thomas was 11-of-14 passing for 170 yards and one touchdown after taking over for starter Greg Guzman, who was 5-for-6 for 33 yards. Chris Simms was the top receiver for Ottawa, with six catches for 86 yards, while Matt Middleton had four catches for 46 yards.

The Coyotes will play in Wichita on next Saturday against conference power Friends, with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m. from Adair-Austin Stadium.

-- KWU SI --