Lightning strikes twice as VW loses 46-14

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

OTTAWA — The Van Wert Cougars looked to have some momentum in their game against Ottawa-Glandorf, with two second-quarter scores putting the Cougars up 14-13 when lightning halted the game with 4:04 remaining in the first half.

Unfortunately, Van Wert looked like had been struck by lightning after costly mistakes on offense and defense allowed the Titans to score three more times in those four minutes and go up 32-14 at the half. The O-G offense was helped by a Van Wert fumble and an interception.

The Cougars, stunned by the reversal of fortune, would not score again, while O-G added two more scores in the third quarter to win 46-14 in both teams’ Western Buckeye League opener.

Van Wert compiled 292 yards of total offense, most of that on the ground, while the Titans had 343 yards, with 213 yards of that through the air.

Cougar quarterback Colin Smith completed only 5 of 20 passes for 93 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. O-G quarterback Zac Unterbrink was 18 of 33 and had five touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Titans scored first with 7:22 remaining in the first quarter on a 10-yard pass from Unterbrink to Logan McDermitt. Mitch Niese split the uprights for the point-after and it was 7-0, O-G.

After Van Wert’s drive went nowhere, the Titans added a TD two seconds into the second quarter when Bryce Utrup bulled it in from the Cougars’ 1-yard line. The kick failed and O-G was up 13-0.

Van Wert then came alive, offensively, as Smith ran for 30 yards and a score with 10:22 remaining in the quarter and the Cougars went ahead on a 55-yard pass play from Smith to Ryan Stoller with 6:44 remaining.

The Titans were in Van Wert territory when lightning forced postponement of the game, and O-G finished that drive with a 6-yard pass from Unterbrink to Zack Kuhlman with 2:06 remaining in the first half.

A fumble by Smith on the ensuing kick-off again put the Titans in scoring position and Unterbrink hit Kuhlman for a 7-yard TD to make it 20-14 with 57 seconds remaining.

The Cougars were on the march again, but an interception thrown by Smith deep in his own territory again put O-G in scoring position. Unterbrink then found Kuhlman for the third time in less than three minutes to put the Titans up by 18, 32-14.

McDermitt had a 45-yard touchdown run with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter, while Cole Osting hit Kuhlman on the halfback option for O-G’s final score of the game with 46 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Smith was Van Wert’s top rusher with 114 yards and a TD on 12 carries, while Justice Tussing added 84 yards on 12 carries. McDermitt was O-G’s top rusher with 76 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

Sid Moening had 62 yards on five receptions to lead both teams in pass receiving, while Kuhlman caught five passes for 58 yards and four touchdowns on the night.

Stoller caught one pass for 55 yards and a touchdown.

The Cougars will try and regroup after the loss in a home game this coming Friday against WBL rival Shawnee. The Indians defeated St. Marys 34-20 in their WBL opener.