Ottawa — Early on Monday evening, high above Ottawa University's Cook Field, a rainbow appeared in the eastern sky.
Minutes earlier, Ottawa's junior varsity had just defeated Haskell Indian Nations in football, 25-15, and HINU coach Gary Tanner had no interest in chasing a pot of gold.
Tanner needs bodies -- specifically offensive linemen -- not gold.
"We've got to get some offensive line blocking," Tanner said. "They played on their heels all day. They're all freshmen, but freshmen can still fire out and freshmen can still hit and freshmen can maintain a block."
Haskell had no running game.
The Fightin' Indians gained 41 yards on 36 carries. The Tribe's longest run was 15 yards -- a scramble by quarterback Nick Lewis in the fourth quarter. HINU's second-longest rush was an eight-yarder by tailback Darren Rhodd, and it was a forward fumble.
With quarterbacks Lewis and Brandon Watson continually harassed, the Indians didn't have much of a passing attack, either.
Watson threw scoring passes of 31 and 35 yards to Sonny Duncan, but misfired on 10 of 16 aerials. Lewis, meanwhile, completed only two of 10 tosses.
"Our receivers were either dropping the ball or our quarterbacks were throwing it over their heads," Tanner said.
Tanner alternates Watson and Lewis, usually every other series, with Watson generally regarded as the better passer and Lewis the better runner. Both are sophomores.
"I'm still looking for one of the two quarterbacks to produce," Tanner said.
Then there were the fumbles. Haskell coughed the ball up three times in the second quarter, and the Braves converted all three into touchdowns.
Here's a recap of HINU's second-quarter fumble woes:
9:29 -- Ottawa JV linebacker Donald Ezell ran 34 yards for a touchdown after Watson lost the ball while being sacked.
8:20 -- Zach Hale fumbled the ensuing kickoff, the Braves recovered and scored three plays later on a Jeremy Shannon to Micah Bray 26-yard pass.
4:10 -- Ottawa JV scored on a five-yard Shannon run. It was the fourth play after Rhodd's fumble gave the Braves the ball on the Haskell 14.
Haskell held the Braves scoreless in the second half, but couldn't take advantage of the defensive crackdown.
"The bottom line is we didn't produce," Tanner said.
Haskell will return home for a 2 p.m. Sunday game against the junior varsity squad from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.
NOTES:
- Haskell lost linebacker Burgess Navarro, a defensive captain, in the second half to an apparent heel injury. Navarro, one of only six juniors on the roster, had to be helped off the field after the game.
- HINU cornerback Jeff Young had two interceptions. Also, defensive end Shannon Ross blocked a punt and recovered a fumble.
- An apparent 66-yard touchdown pass from Watson to Erik Holuby late in the first half was called back after Holuby was flagged for offensive interference.
- Haskell had zero yards in the first half. The Indians gained 31 yards and lost 31 yards. All 193 yards of HINU's offense came in the second half.
- Holuby kicked a 28 yard field goal in the third quarter, but missed a 22-yard attempt later.
- Ottawa JV finished with a staggering 159 yards in penalties.
-- Chuck Woodling's phone message number is 832-7147. His e-mail address is cwoodling@ljworld.com.
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