Wapakoneta’s Jace Knous looks to get past Ottawa-Glandorf’s Alec Schroeder during Friday night’s game at Wapakoneta.
Don Speck | The Lima News
WAPAKONETA – Early on, it looked like a possible blowout.
By the second half, it was a nailbiter.
Wapakoneta jumped out quickly on visiting Ottawa-Glandorf.
After the Redskins pulled out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, the Titans battled back.
However, Wapakoneta managed to hold off O-G in the second half, en route to a hard-fought 14-7 victory in a Western Buckeye League football opener at Mercy Health/Wapak Ford Field at Harmon Stadium Friday night.
“I thought that in the first quarter, we came out and played with a sense of urgency and got off to a really good start,” Wapakoneta head coach Travis Moyer said. “Unfortunately, the next three quarters did not go that way for us, especially offensively.
“The one thing we talked about was taking care of the football. We had too many turnovers tonight (three), and too many negative-yardage plays that put us behind the chains.”
Wapakoneta (1-1 overall, 1-0 WBL) cashed in early.
After O-G (0-2, 0-1 WBL) was forced to punt, the Redskins got the ball on O-G’s 25-yard line.
Five plays later, running back Connor Meckstroth (13 carries, 31 yards) ran it in from one yard out for the touchdown. With the point after by Preston Meyer, Wapakoneta led 7-0, just a little more than three minutes into the first quarter.
Wapakoneta scored on its second possession of the contest.
This scoring drive for the Redskins took just four plays to cover 56 yards. Meckstroth capped off the scoring drive with a one-yard TD run. With the PAT, Wapakoneta led 14-0 with 5:56 left in the opening stanza.
The Titans responded.
O-G got on the scoreboard with 2:08 left to play in the first quarter.
O-G quarterback Landon Morman (12 of 27 passing, 157 yards) found Carter Duling open for a 17-yard scoring strike to pull O-G to within 7.
In the first half, Wapakoneta’s offensive unit rolled up 150 total yards.
O-G’s offensive unit recorded 100 total yards in the first half.
For the game, Wapakoneta’s offense had 203 total yards. O-G’s offense recorded 220 total yards.
Wapakoneta had 11 first downs on the night, while O-G moved the chains 10 times.
Wapakoneta junior running back Jace Knous rushed for 57 yards on 10 carries in the first half. Knous ended the night with 90 yards on 16 carries.
Wapakoneta freshman quarterback Caleb Moyer was 4 of 4 passing with 72 yards in the first half. For the game, Moyer, the head coach’s son, was 4 of 5 passing for 72 yards.
Wapakoneta’s defense stuffed the final drive for O-G in the final two minutes to record the thrilling win.
“I thought our defense played exceptionally well tonight,” Moyer said. “They rose up when we needed them. It was a tough WBL win. … It was one that we had to grind it out. We knew O-G was going to come and play exceptionally hard, tonight. They’re extremely well-coached, and their kids always play extremely hard.”
Mark Altstaetter wrote this story for The Lima News. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
