OTTAWA – The old adage is defense wins championships and if that is the case Ottawa-Glandorf seems to be on the right path to a state title.
The Titans have opened the postseason with back-to-back shutouts but they will face a huge challenge again this week against an unbeaten Otsego (8-0) that features an explosive, well-balanced offensive attack and a strong defense.
Ottawa-Glandorf defensive coordinator Brian Heebsh said he has seen this defense grow over the course of the season and because of the team’s Western Buckeye League schedule had a chance to see a variety of offensive styles.
Heebsh added that like most good defense its starts up front.
“We have very good defensive line that is very well coached by Ben Kaufman and Coach (Ken) Schriner helps out there too,” Heebsh said “Seeing different teams throughout the year has really prepared out defense well.”
For the year, the Titan defense is giving up an average of 15.6 points a game.
Heebsh added that some moves prior to the season the team made some personnel moves that have been key to the team’s defensive success. Like most squads, the defense had holes to fill.
One move was to put Marco Rosales, who played linebacker last season, down on the defensive line and this has bolstered the run defense and another move was to make Will Kaufman a linebacker. Last season he played in the secondary.
In the secondary, Heebsh added that they had some healthy competition to fill some spots and it has paid off.
“Will has sort of been the nucleus of our defense and all the players have accepted their changes in the defense and their roles,” Heebsh said.
One of the main points the defensive coaching staff preaches is not giving up the big play and in their win against Northwestern, Heebsh points out the defense did not give up a play of 13 yards or more and held them to 11 rushing yards.
Not to be overshadowed by the defense, the Titan offense has also been delivering. In its opening postseason game against Orville, O-G recorded a 62-0 win.
Quarterback Jacob Balbaugh, a four-year starter, has been the steady guiding force behind the balanced Titan attack that can beat you through the air or on the ground. The titans are scoring an average of 31.8 points a contest.
Balbaugh has completed 65 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,474 yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions.
The Titan signal caller has a host of talented receivers to throw to with three with 20 catches or more. Caleb Kaufman has 38 receptions for 433 yards and five touchdowns and Will Kaufman has 32 grabs for 428 yards and five touchdowns.
Brennen Blevins, a difference maker at receiver, has 23 catches for 407 yards and is averaging 17.7 yards a catch.
“We are fortunate to have a number of skilled players,” Heebsh said. “A number of teams have just one and teams can adjust to that but we have a number of guys who are athletic and we want to get them in open space.”
Heebsh adds that Schriner is still a believer in he old-school smash mouth football and wants to establish a running game to compliment the passing game and thanks to the work on the offensive line the Titans can effectively move the ball on the ground.
Anchoring the offensive line is Cael Hoen, a junior, who Heebsh said missed the first three games of the season but has added stability to an already strong presence up front.
Titan running back Parker Schnipke has been the beneficiary by his teammate’s work up front. The junior leads the team in rushing with 636 yards and seven touchdowns on 107 carries. Against Orville, Schnipke rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns and last week rushed for 109 yards and one touchdown.
With Otsego coming up, Heebsh said this game, like most, will be decided in the trenches.
“We are going to have to run the ball and defensively we are going to have to stop the run,” Heebsh said. “Turnovers are always big especially during the playoffs and getting those extra possessions are huge.”
Heebsh said Otsego comes in with a above average running game and a quarterback that can thrown the ball. Otsego has outscored its playoff opponents 89-20 this year and outscored opponents 313-99 this season.
Otsego quarterback Joseph Dzierwa has passed for more than 1,400 yards and 8 touchdowns and his favorite target is his brother, Noah Dzierwa, who has caught 29 passes for 436 yards and seven touchdowns.
On the ground, Trent Lecter leads the way for the Knights. Lecter has has amassed 779 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. In their playoff win over Wynford, Lecter scored five touchdowns
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