Titans blank VW in WBL grid opener

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

It was a disappointing way to start the Western Buckeye League season, as the young Van Wert Cougars were blanked 42-0 by Ottawa-Glandorf in both teams’ league opener.

It was a stellar offensive and defensive effort on the part of the Titans, who had 338 yards of total offense, more than 200 of that on the ground, while holding Van Wert to just 120 yards of offense, including just 18 yards rushing.

Shane Schroeder was the big offensive weapon for O-G, gaining 111 yards rushing and a touchdown on 11 carries. Titan Blake Blevins was the game’s top receiver with 51 yards on four carries, while O-G quarterback Logan Rieman was 10 of 16 for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Cougar quarterback Colin Smith, under pressure most of the night from the Titan defense, completed 8 of 25 passes for 102 yards and no TDs, while throwing two interceptions on the night.

Ottawa-Glandorf scored its first touchdown of the night at the 4:43 mark of the first quarter when Rieman scored on a run from the Van Wert 1-yard-line. Mitch Niese kicked the point-after and it was 7-0, Titans.

O-G scored again in the first quarter when Rieman hit Zach Kuhlman on a 22-yard scoring strike with 3:03 left in the quarter. Niese again hit the PAT and the Titans led 14-0 at the end of the quarter.

Ottawa-Glandorf scored three times in the second quarter. Rieman ran for the first TD from 10 yards out at the 7:20 mark, Brad Racer raced into the end zone from the Van Wert 2-yard-line with 5:47 remaining in the half, while Rieman hooked up with Tyler Zender on a 9-yard TD pass with 12 seconds remaining in the half for a 35-0 lead heading into the locker room.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but the Titans had one more score in them. Shane Schroeder scampered into the end zone from 10 yards out for the final O-G score with 7:09 remaining in the game. Niese kicked his sixth successful PAT and the score ended at 42-0.

Van Wert is now 0-2 on the year and 0-1 in the WBL, while the Titans go to 1-0 in league play and are 2-0 overall.

The Cougars will play Shawnee this coming week in another WBL match-up. Shawnee edged St. Marys, 14-13, and is now 1-0 in the league and 1-1 overall.