KCAC

[Football] Football Falcons Come Up Just Short vs. Ottawa, 35-28

WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Falcons suffered a narrow 35-28 setback to the Ottawa University Braves today (Nov. 7) at Adair-Austin Stadium in their first action since winning 56-21 over Sterling College back on Oct. 10.The Falcons were forced to play from behind from the outset when the Braves scored on their first two possessions of the game, starting with a three-yard touchdown run by quarterback Colton Davis for an early 7-0 lead.Following a Falcon turnover on downs, the Braves scored on the next play on a 51 yard touchdown from Davis to Derrick Curtis for a two touchdown lead with 8:18 still left in the first quarter.The Falcons again failed to convert on fourth down on their next drive, but the defense returned the favor when Conner Lockhorn (SO/Cheyenne, Wyo.) had great coverage and deflected a pass in the end zone on fourth and nine.That got the Falcons going and Joshua Morris (SO/Mt. Pleasant, Texas) came in at quarterback and got free for a 45 yard touchdown to cut the Braves' lead in half.Early in the second quarter, Curtis answered with a big scoring run of his own, a 61 yard burst that gave the Braves their two possession lead back.The Braves maintained that lead for the remainder of the first half, but the tide changed when Lockhorn blocked a 22-yard field goal attempt.Juan Salazar (SR/Vernon, Texas) then rushed for 44 yards to key a 12, 79 yard scoring drive that culminated with a four-yard scoring strike from Dan Dawdy (SR/Haysville, Kan.) to Cade Nagy (SO/Broken Arrow, Okla. ).After the Falcons forced a three and out on the Braves' next possession, the offense methodically marched down the field, embarking on a drive of 17 plays that covered 62 yards and bridged the final 4:50 of the third quarter and the opening 2:48 of the fourth.The big play of the drive was a 23 yard completion from Dawdy to Nagy on third and 13 and Salazar finished it off with a one yard touchdown scamper to pull the Falcons even at 21-21.But on the Braves' next possession, Davis found Jermaine Ziegler for a 45 yard completion that set up Curtis scoring the go-ahead touchdown from two yards out with 10:48 left.The Falcons turned it over on downs their next drive and the Braves promptly took advantage with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Dylan Foos that created another two possession lead of 35-21 for Ottawa.But the Falcons wouldn't go quietly and again clawed within one score as 16 and 17 yard runs by Salazar was followed by Dawdy finding Waylon Chance (SO/Valley Center, Kan.) for a six yard touchdown with 6:51 left.Drake Damon (SR/Goddard, Kan. ) then made sure the Falcons had an opportunity to tie the score when he intercepted a pass at the Falcon 24 yard line at the 4:10 mark of the fourth quarter.But the Falcons couldn't muster another drive, turning it over on downs on their final two possessions.Dawdy finished completing 13-of-29 for 123 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons. Morris carried nine times for 78 yards and the one rushing score.Salazar gained the second most yards of his career, rushing for 136 yards on 31 attempts and one touchdown.Nagy led the Falcons with four catches for 64 yards.Curtis, the NAIA's rushing leader, gained 130 yards on the ground, with almost half of those yards coming on his 61 yard scoring run for one of his two touchdowns on the day.Davis also rushed for 102 yards while passing for 197 yards and two scores.Ziegler had team-highs of five receptions and 103 yards for the Braves (4-1, 3-1 KCAC).David Akao (JR/Wichita, Kan.) led the Falcon defense with nine tackles, with Damon, Jagger Blubaugh (SO/Wichita, Kan. ) and Jason Weah (JR/Madison, Wis. ) each recording eight stops.Colby Johnson had a game-high 14 tackles for Ottawa, while Aaron Schoemann had a big game of 13 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.The Falcons will remain at home and host the University of Saint Mary next Saturday (Nov. 14), with kickoff again set for 1 pm at Adair-Austin Stadium.