One play.

That is what separated Owensville Dutchmen football from back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 2004.

However, Nathan Cabot’s Dutchmen scored the first 49 points of the game against Cuba’s Wildcats Friday night handing their Highway 19 neighbors to the south their first loss of the season, 49-8.

“We’re proud of the guys and the effort they put out tonight against a good Cuba football team,” Cabot said. “One thing we’ve preached to the kids this season is that we’re all gas and no brake.”

Winning the opening coin toss and deferring to the second half nearly backfired on OHS Friday night.

Cuba drove the ball nearly 50 yards in 14 plays before an incomplete pass on fourth down turned the ball over on downs back to the Dutchmen offense.

Burning just two minutes of clock, junior quarterback Brendan Decker capped a five-play, 88-yard drive with a 61-yard touchdown strike to Bryce Payne at the 4:04 mark of the opening quarter.

Charlie Whelan’s extra point gave Owensville an early 7-0 lead.

Cuba’s next drive once again saw them move the football into Dutchmen territory.

On third-and-eight from the OHS 12-yard line, Derek Brandt intercepted a Mason Pfeiffer pass at the goal line returning it all the way to the Cuba 45-yard line.

Two plays later, Owensville had a 60-yard TD strike from Decker to Payne wiped away via a penalty for an ineligible man down field.

Ending the first quarter on a 40-yard pass play from Decker to Brandt, the Dutchmen doubled their lead two plays into the second.

Brandt finished with a team-high 162 yards receiving on five catches and two touchdowns.

Going back to the air, Decker found Austin Lowder for a 22-yard TD pass with 11:21 until halftime.

Whelan’s kick doubled the OHS lead to 14-0.

On the ensuing kickoff return, Owensville’s special teams caused a fumble which Alan Kopp recovered giving the Dutchmen offense the ball back at the Wildcat 47-yard line.

Seven plays later, Decker threw his third touchdown pass of the game finding Brandt on a 23-yard strike with 7:49 for the half.

In spite of a botched snap on the extra-point attempt, Decker took it around the left side and in the end zone for two points and a 22-0 lead .

Seeing another Cuba offensive drive into Dutchmen territory, Cabot’s defense once again answered the bell.

Senior Bryor Bogle intercepted a Pfeiffer pass keeping Cuba off the scoreboard.

Following a personal foul penalty, Owensville got the ball back deep in their own territory at the 4-yard line.

Seeing barely a minute elapse off the clock, OHS capped a three-play, 96-yard drive with a 19-yard TD pass from Decker to Payne at the 3:00 mark of the second quarter.

Whelan’s kick gave Owensville a 28-0 lead.

Adding to his sack from last week, junior Zibbie Whitaker sacked Pfeiffer forcing Cuba to punt with less than a minute left in the half.

“Our defense was physical and that is what we wanted,” Cabot said.

Owensville’s next play from scrimmage yielded a 30-yard TD pass from Decker to Brandt with 45 ticks until halftime.

Decker finished with 313 yards through the air on 11-15 passing to go with six touchdowns. He also led the OHS ground attack with 54 yards rushing on nine carries.

Whelan’s kick pushed the Dutchmen lead to 35-0.

Starting the second half with a running clock, Owensville had the football looking to add more points on to their already big lead.

Staring at a fourth-and-12 from the Cuba 34-yard line. Decker connected with Payne on a 34-yard TD pass at the 7:03 mark of the third quarter.

With all three of his catches for touchdowns, Payne finished with 113 yards receiving.

Whelan’s kick gave Owensville a 42-0 lead near the midway point of the third quarter.

Four plays into Cuba’s next drive, the Dutchmen defense struck again.

TJ Whelan recorded Owensville’s third interception of the game just when the Wildcats were entering Owensville’s half of the field.

Midway through the fourth quarter, OHS’ second-string offense led by freshman quarterback Blake Elliott took the field.

Starting their drive from the Cuba 46-yard line, a Dutchmen senior capped the scoring.

Bogle turned a broken play into a 21-yard touchdown run and a 49-0 lead following Charlie Whelan’s latest extra point.

Less than two minutes from another shutout, Owensville saw Cuba scored on a 76-yard TD pass on the final play of the game.

OHS’ senior trio of TC Fisher (12), Garret West (10) and Bogle (9) led the Dutchmen defense in the tackle department.

OHS (2-1) will open Four Rivers Conference (FRC) football Friday night at home against St. James (0-3) with a 7 p.m., kickoff.

St. James fell to Hermann last Friday night 22-15 during homecoming in Phelps County.