Ottawa — In a football game full of big plays, Ottawa High had more in a 27-7 victory over Bonner Springs
The Cyclones scored on plays of 56, 29 and 60 yards and made an important defensive goal-line stand to run their record to 3-0.
The Braves' only touchdown came on a 64-yard run.
Ottawa couldn't score in the first quarter, but made the most of its opportunities in the second.
"We've yet to put points on the board in the first quarter," Ottawa coach Pat Boeh said. "The second quarter is a big quarter for us."
The Cyclones showed that by scoring on their second play of the period, a 56-yard screen pass from J.R. Servatius to running back Travis Brownrigg, who also rushed 23 times for 144 yards.
Brownrigg caught the pass and dodged one defender at the line of scrimmage, then ran past four defenders down the left sideline for the touchdown. Jerod Brook's extra point gave the Cyclones a 7-0 lead.
Bonner fumbled the ball back to Ottawa five plays later, and on third down and six the Cyclones tried the screen pass again, but the ball was deflected by a Bonner lineman. Not discouraged, Boeh had Ottawa attempt a fourth-down conversion.
"We feel real comfortable with our offensive line," Boeh said. "We feel like we can get a yard or two."
They got more than that. Servatius threw a nine-yard pass to William Newland for the first down. Four plays later, Boeh decided to go for another fourth-down conversion, which ended with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Servatius to Nathan Steward for a 13-0 lead.
Servatius was 9-of-23 for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
Ottawa's defense did its part in the first half as well, holding the Braves to 63 yards on 24 carries and holding quarterback Chad Anderson to only one completion for 14 yards.
"We went to a defense tonight that I'm sure Bonner wasn't well prepared for," Boeh said. "It was the first time we've run it. I'm sure that it threw them for a loop."
The Cyclones came out strong in the second half, scoring on a 60-yard draw by Joe Steward on their second play after the break.
Joe Steward, who rushed nine times for 98 yards, took the hand-off, ran through the middle of the line, broke a tackle and spun away from two defenders on the left sideline. Brooks' kick gave the Cyclones a 20-0 lead.
Ottawa's defense forced the Braves to punt on their next series and the offense scored four plays later on an eight-yard run by Eric Miller for a 27-0 lead.
Bonner scored its only TD when Anderson ran for a 64-yard touchdown straight up the middle on the third play of the Braves' next series.
After Ottawa missed a field goal with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter, Bonner drove the field and had a first down at the Ottawa four-yard line.
Adam Brooks stopped Brandon Wilson at the line on first down, and Michael Nation deflected a pass by Anderson on second.
Nation ran down Mike Gardner at the four-yard line on third down and Scott Barkley intercepted Anderson's pass on fourth.
"We made a couple of adjustments," Boeh said. "It's just a matter of our defense not being denied. Nation made two big plays."
Nation also played a big part on the offensive side, with 60 yards on five catches, three of which gave the Cyclones first downs.
Bonner Springs 7, Ottawa 27
Bonner Springs 0 0 7 0 -- 7
Ottawa 0 13 14 0 -- 27
O -- Travis Brownrigg 56 pass from J.R. Servatius (Jerod Brooks kick)
O -- Nathan Steward 29 pass from Servatius (kick failed)
O -- Joe Steward 60 run (Brooks kick)
O -- Eric Miller 8 run (Brooks kick)
B -- Chad Anderson 64 run (Mike Gardner kick)
-- Levi Chronister phone number is 832-7165. His e-mail address is lchronister@ljworld.com.
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