Cougars dominated by Ottawa-Glandorf

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

OTTAWA — The offensive and defensive woes of the Van Wert Cougars continued in a 42-0 defeat during the team’s Western Buckeye League opener Friday at Ottawa-Glandorf.

The Cougars had a two-pronged problem: the inability to move the ball, coupled with the inability to stop the Titans from doing so.

Van Wert was held to just 103 yards of total offense, 81 passing and just 22 on the ground, while O-G had nearly 500 yards of total offense: 216 yards rushing and another 267 yards passing.

The Cougars started off with a risky play a fake punt that Ottawa-Glandorf stuffed short of a first down, giving the Titans good field position on the O-G 49-yard line. Five plays later, the Titans had their first touchdown as Connor Niese ran the ball in from the 10-yard line for a touchdown. Tristen Ball kicked the first of six extra points and it was 7-0, O-G.

After stalled Van Wert drives, the Titans scored again in the first quarter on a 6-yard run by quarterback Jay Kaufman to make it 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Ottawa-Glandorf scored three times in the second quarter, the first coming on a 2-yard pass from Jay Kaufman to Evan Kaufman with 8:19 remaining in the quarter to make it 21-0. The Kaufmans again connected with 1:36 remaining in the period, this time on a 36-yard scoring strike for a 28-0 lead.

The Titans got one more chance to score before the half ended, and they took advantage of it, scoring on a 56-yard pass play from Kaufman to Richie Knowlton with 15 seconds left on the first-half clock.

O-G’s final score came on another big play, as Kaufman hit Trent Basinger on a short pass, and Basinger turned the play into a 70-yard touchdown ramble.

Niese had 119 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries, while Basinger caught three passes for 80 yards and a TD and Knowlton hauled in two passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Nick Gutierrez had two catches for 39 yards, while Jacoby Kelly caught six passes for just 21 yards.

Van Wert is now 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the WBL, while the Titans are 2-0 overall and 1-0 in league play.

The Cougars’ will have another opportunity to get in the win column on Friday when they host Shawnee at Eggerss Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.