OTTAWA, Kan. – On Saturday night in eastern Kansas, the No. 8-ranked Southwestern College football squad did battle against the Ottawa University Braves for each team's first contest of the 2022 season. The rust on offense was evident in the early going for both sides, as it was a 6-2 game in favor of the Braves after two quarters. However, the Builders tallied three offensive touchdowns and a defensive score in the second half to run away with the tilt, grabbing a 29-6 victory in the season opener.

Neither team could find their way onto the scoreboard in the opening quarter, as the two defenses dominated the early stages of the battle. Each drive in the first frame ended in either a punt or a turnover on downs.

Then, Ottawa scored first in the second quarter on a drive that began in the last four minutes of the opening stanza. It concluded with a 31-yard field goal to put the Braves up 3-0. Immediately following that drive, the Moundbuilders put together a long drive of their own, amassing 74 yards of offense. Unfortunately, they came up one yard shy of reaching pay dirt, as a fourth-down rush by Jaqulis Coleman was stopped at the Ottawa one yard-line. Luckily, after a quick three-and-out by OU, they snapped the pigskin over their punter's head and through the back of the endzone for a safety, making it just a 3-2 SC deficit. Then, after a pair of unsuccessful drives, Southwestern fumbled the ball in their own half of the field with just over a minute left. It turned into a 48-yard field goal try which was converted by Ottawa to make it 6-2 entering the break.

After halftime, the results immediately swung in the Builders' favor. The very first drive of the half was a four-play drive which went a total of 52 yards, as Layke Hoffman was on the receiving end of a 21-yard strike from Luke Barnes to mark the first TD of the battle for either side, making it a 9-6 SC lead. Then, after a three-and-out from the Braves, it was a great opportunity for Southwestern to extend their advantage. Unfortunately, Barnes would toss an interception, as Ottawa took over once again. Fortunately, just three plays later, the Braves would toss the ball right back to SC. Riley Havird stepped in front of a throw to the far sideline at the Builder 18 yard-line and returned it 82 yards to the house, making it a 16-6 SC lead after Gabriel Medrano's PAT. The score would remain into the fourth quarter of play.

The first drive of the fourth stanza ended in another Southwestern score, as Barnes tossed a four-yard fade to Ziyon Kenner, who tapped a toe in the back corner of the endzone. The tally made it 23-6 after Medrano's made PAT. Then, Southwestern forced a four-play turnover on downs by OU, which was followed by the final TD drive of the bout by SC. After a 32-yard pass to Andre Jones, Barnes handed off to Coleman to pound in a five-yard TD scamper. Medrano missed the PAT, making it 29-6, where the score would stay until the end.

The passing game got off to a slow start, but picked up the pace in the second half, as Barnes finished the evening with an 18-26 night and 214 yards through the air. He threw two touchdowns and two picks in his first action since the middle of the 2021 season.

Running the football is a huge key to offensive success, and in the opening half, there was little success on the ground. In the second, it was a bit better, as Coleman finished the night with 15 carries for 66 yards, which equates to a 4.4 yards per carry total. He also had a TD on the ground.

Keyshawn Jones led the team in receiving, totaling seven catches for 60 yards in the tilt. He did not score a TD in the battle, but the tight end Hoffman did, as he caught three passes for 48 yards. He lost the only Builder fumble on the night. The longest catch of the matchup was by Jordyn Jackson, who had one grab on the evening for 39 yards. A. Jones had three catches for 44 yards, including a long of 32 yards, as well. Kenner, though he had just one catch, scored the other Builder touchdown with his four-yard snag.

Havird had a massive day, amassing eight tackles, which tied Richard Holmes and Josh Carter for the team lead in the game. He also was responsible for the pick-six that helped turn the tide of the game completely in the Moundbuilders' favor. The Builder defense held Ottawa to just 248 yards of offense, as the SC offense conversely put up 305 of their own. The Braves managed only 2.7 yards per carry on the ground against the stout Builder defensive front.

Southwestern (1-0, 1-0 KCAC) will host the Bethany College Swedes in their home opener on Saturday, September 10 at 6 p.m. inside Richard L. Jantz Stadium. It will be an opportunity to get the home crowd excited for what is to come in the 2022 campaign.

--buildersports.com--