Ottawa’s Ward MVP

NAIA standout shines in Blue-Gray Classic

? Derrick Ward proved, once again, that he could play with the big boys.

Ward, a 6-foot, 225-pound running back from Ottawa University, was his team’s offensive MVP Thursday, helping the Blue to a 31-24 victory in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic with five catches for 59 yards and 38 yards on five rushes.

Ward also recovered an onside kick in the final seconds to seal the victory.

It wasn’t the first time the Los Angeles native had played against Division I-A competition. The KCAC Player of the Year was a Football News Freshman All-America in 1999, when he rushed for 875 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns at Fresno State. He was hampered by injuries in 2000 and relegated to the scout team the following year before transferring to Ottawa, which he led to a 9-0 regular season and a spot in the NAIA playoffs.

In the process, he broke five school records: single-season rushing yards (2,061), touchdowns (28), points (168), yards per carry (7.8) and single-game rushing yards (315). His 7.8 yards per carry was an NAIA record, and he also led the NAIA in rushing and rushing TDs.

Long a Christmas Day tradition, the Blue-Gray game was canceled last year because officials couldn’t line up a sponsor. It had been played 50 miles north in Montgomery since 1938, matching college seniors from the North (Blue) against those from the South (Gray).

Count Butchie Wallace among the seniors thankful the game was resurrected this season. The Marshall running back wrapped up his college career with two fourth-quarter touchdowns in the stadium where he broke his right hand three months earlier.

“I’m just happy to come back down here and get a win,” said Wallace, injured late in Marshall’s 33-24 loss to Troy State in September. “All my bad memories here — at least most of them — are wiped out. It’s something I’m going to cherish forever.”

Blue receiver ryan krause (82) of Nebraska-Omaha is congratulated by Blue teammate Derrick Ward of Ottawa after scoring a touchdown. Ward was his team's offensive MVP in a 31-24 victory over the Gray Thursday at Troy, Ala.

Wallace, who played for Blue offensive coach Bob Pruett at Marshall, was a late addition to the roster and responded with touchdown runs of three and 17 yards in a 3:34 span of the fourth quarter. His long list of injuries at Marshall included a sprained ankle, concussion, pulled leg muscles and back problems.

Wallace arrived Tuesday night to replace Southern Illinois running back Tom Koutsos, who hurt his right knee in practice.

“He got here late, then got to play and scored two touchdowns,” Pruett said. “That’s an awesome deal for him. He was sitting by the phone when we called and got here the next day.”

The Blue squad broke a 17-all tie early in the fourth on Wallace’s three-yard score.

San Jose State quarterback Scott Rislov was 3-of-3 passing for 62 yards on the drive. Rislov finished 16-of-24 for 195 yards and won overall MVP honors for the Blue.

Louisiana Tech quarterback Luke McCown found Bobby Blizzard of North Carolina for a 14-yard touchdown with 23 seconds left, but Ward recovered the onside kick.