By Mike Purdy
Lima News
PEMBERVILLE — Ottawa-Glandorf football coach Ken Schriner didn’t want a moral victory in his team’s season opener Friday night.
He wanted the real thing, which made the 21-18 loss to Eastwood that much tougher to take in a back-and-forth season opener at Freedom Field.
“There’s no such thing as moral victories in my world,” Schriner said.
Eastwood pulled ahead with a touchdown pass with 5:10 remaining. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty doomed the Titans’ following offensive drive, putting the pressure on O-G’s defense with the Eagles backed up to their 5 and 3:01 left in the game. The Titans never touched the ball again, though.
“When we put them down there inside the 5 and we’ve got three timeouts, I’m thinking we’ve got a chance to kick the field goal and win this game,” Shriner said. “Then we just didn’t get it done. I’m disappointed in every part of what we did tonight.”
Kadyn Donnell, Eastwood’s 6-1, 180-pound quarterback, led his team both through the air (196 yards and two touchdowns passing) and on the ground (26 carries, 115 yards with one TD). His rushing touchdown was a 2-yard scamper as time expired in the first quarter, before the Titans slowed down his running game.
The Titans countered with Peyton Kuhlman playing the role of the traditional quarterback. The 6-foot-2, 176-pound junior threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns, including two second-quarter scores.
His favorite target was Grant Schroeder, who he targeted 16 times, completing nine passes for 122 receiving yards, including a 55-yard haul in the second quarter as the Titans pulled ahead 12-7. Kuhlman connected with Schroeder on a deep post pattern from left to right across the field. Schroeder grabbed it in stride and ran the final 30 yards for the score.
Eastwood regained the lead in the third quarter with a huge passing play. Donnell found a well-covered Andre Lewis with a deep pass on the left sideline. Oliver pulled the ball away from the defensive back, Schroeder, and sprinted the remaining 55 yards for a touchdown. An extra point later, and Eastwood had the lead at 14-12.
“The big play down here, that’s just a guy going up and getting a jump ball,” Schriner said. “You’ve gotta give them credit for making that play.”
The Titans pulled ahead 18-14 with 2:12 left in the third quarter. Jordan Metzger ran a streak down the right sideline and caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Kuhlman. The pass conversion attempt failed, though, leaving O-G with a four-point lead.
The Eagles came fighting back, though, leaving Schriner with a sour taste after the season opener, in part because of lackluster running game. The Titans only had 53 yards on the ground on 23 carries, with Vinnie Brinkman leading the pack with 13 carries for 44 yards.
“We’re going to get better,” Schriner said. “We’re going to watch film and correct these mistakes.”
