Nov. 22, 2009

Story courtesy of Ottawa Sports Information

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OTTAWA, Kan. – Ottawa (Kan.) scored 34 unanswered points to dig out of a 28-point deficit and went on to defeat the Hastings College (Neb.) Broncos 40-34 at Peoples Bank Field on Saturday night (Nov. 21). Clarence Anderson and Seth Homolka both tied a school record and Anderson broke another one in the victory. It is Ottawa's first win in the 2009 NAIA Football Championship Series. The victory is the 11th win of the season, a first in program history. Anderson and Josh Hojje earned Football Championship Series First Round Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game.

In Hastings for possession of the game the Broncos took the ball 75 yards on 11 plays to take an early 7-0 lead on the Braves. HC running back Nick Grummert ran the ball five times for 33 yards and scored the touchdown.

Ottawa answered the Hastings score with one of its own. The Braves marched the ball 70 yards on nine plays. The drive was capped off with an Ethan Haller touchdown pass to Anderson. There was a bad snap on the extra point attempt, resulting in a Hastings one point lead, 7-6.

The Broncos received the ball at their own 40 on the kickoff and four plays later the Braves defense, led by Fielding Brenner and Art Rubio, held HC to a punt.

With 4:45 left in the first quarter OU took over possession on its own 17. Seven plays later Haller threw is first interception of the night, giving HC the ball at the Hastings 35.

It took the Broncos six plays and 65 yards to increase their lead to eight points, 14-6. Troy Huebert found Maurice Mansfield in the end zone for the touchdown.

The Hastings defense silence the Braves offense the rest of the half, holding OU to three interceptions and one punt in OU’s last four offensive possessions. The Braves found themselves down at the half, 27-6. It was just the second time this season that Ottawa was behind at halftime. The last time was versus McPherson College on Sept. 19, 2009 and OU was behind 31-20.

Ottawa received the ball on the kickoff to start the second half and had to punt four plays later after the Hastings defense held. The Broncos received the Michael Cebold punt at the HC 20. Grummert scored from 13 yards out thirteen plays later giving Hastings a 34-6 lead over the Braves.

The Braves received the ball at their own 46 yard line after nice return by Clarence Anderson. Three plays, 54 yards and 1:01 later OU punched the ball in the end zone on a 36 yard touchdown pass from Haller to Anderson. After the Casey Wieder extra point, OU was down 34-13 with 5:30 left in the third quarter.

The OU defense came up big on the next Hastings offensive possession and forced a Bronco punt. The Braves received the ball at the OU 41 and again it didn’t take Ottawa much time to score.

Ottawa took the ball down the field in three plays and 53 seconds later scored to get within 14 points, 34-20. Haller found Anderson again, this time for an eight yard touchdown reception.

After the Broncos took the Josh Hall kickoff to the HC 25 Ross Diehl came up with a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Diehl recovered the ball at the HC one yard line. One play later Haller snuck the ball in from one yard out and after the Wieder extra point, OU was within a touchdown and an extra point.

Again the Braves defense came through in the clutch. HC had the ball at the OU 44 when Josh Hojje had a tackle for a two yard loss, Earl Moorning tackled the HC wide receiver for only a two yard gain and Hojje came up big again with a pass break up. This forced Hastings to punt one more time.

Ottawa received the ball at the OU 17 on the Corey Schultz punt return and three plays later had the ball in the end zone again. For the fourth time on the night Haller found Anderson for the touchdown. This time it was a 74 yard touchdown pass. With that reception, Anderson broke Schultz’s school record of 273 yards set this season versus McPherson College. He had 13 receptions for 291 yards and his four receiving touchdowns tied his own school record for single game touchdown receptions.

After the Wieder extra point the game was tied at 34 apiece. During the next two plays the OU defense had a tackle by Jamison Shaw for a four yards loss and a sack by Seth Homolka for a seven yard loss, forcing HC to punt for the third time in five second half possessions.

The Braves took their first lead of the game four plays later when Andy Otto took the ball right up the gut of the Broncos defense and scored a 64 yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked and OU had a six point lead, 40-34 with 6:56 left in regulation.

Hastings returned the Hall kickoff to the HC 36 yard line. The Broncos took the ball down the field and had possession at the OU 7 when Casey Calhoun intercepted the ball at three yard line. He brought it back to the OU 7, giving OU a 40-34 victory.

Ottawa had 487 yards of offense, 415 through the air and 72 on the ground. Hastings had 450, 266 through the air and 184 on the ground. The Broncos led in time of possession 42:21 to 17:39 and was 13-20 on third down conversions compared to OU’s 2-9.

Haller was 23-40 for 415 yards and four touchdown passes. He had a long of 74 yards and was only sacked one time. Otto rushed eight times for 76 yards. He also had three receptions for 17 yards. Anderson had 13 receptions for 291 yards and four touchdowns. Schultz had seven receptions for 107 yards. This is the third straight game of OU have two receivers with both having over 100 receiving yards.

Ottawa’s defense was led Defensive Player of the Game, Josh Hojje. He had 16 tackles, eight solo and eight assisted. He also had one pass break up and one quarterback sack. His 16 tackles are two off of the school record held by Robert Matherly (18,1988) and Greg Schultz (18,1976). Fielding Brenner was right behind Hojje with 14, five solo and nine assisted. He had one pass break up on the night. Seth Homolka led OU in sacks with three, which tied Hojje and Diehl for the school record in single game sacks. For the game the Braves tallied six sacks.

Up next for OU (11-0) is a road trip to St. Charles, Mo. to play the third ranked team in the NAIA, Lindenwood University. The Lions are coached by former OU head coach Patrick Ross. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28th at 1:30 p.m.