Falling out of the Four Rivers Conference (FRC) title picture after last week’s loss to Union, Nathan Cabot’s Owensville Dutchmen shifted their focus to claiming their first district title since 2016.

Turning four turnovers into points, OHS took a step in the right direction.

After falling behind 6-0 midway through the first quarter, Owensville put 35 unanswered points on the board the rest of the game going on to a 35-6 victory.

“We got off to a slow start but turned it up in the second quarter,” Cabot said. “We were able to keep the pressure on them in the third quarter by scoring on our opening possession of the second half.”

Just beyond the midway point of the opening quarter, Sullivan got on the scoreboard first.

Going for it on fourth down, Eagle quarterback Gabe Dace found Gavin Dace on a 23-yard touchdown pass at the 5:23 mark of the first period. Sullivan led 6-0 following the missed extra-point attempt.

Owensville had an answer in the closing seconds of the first quarter.

Dutchmen senior quarterback Brendan Decker connected with Charlie Whelan on a 5-yard TD pass tying the game at 6-6 with :18 for the opening period. Whelan’s extra point gave OHS a 7-6 lead.

Cashing in one of four turnovers early in the second quarter, the Dutchmen were able to add to their lead.

Decker found Austin Lowder on another 5-yard touchdown pass with 10:32 until halftime. Whelan’s kick boosted the Owensville lead to 14-6 early in the second quarter.

Scoring in the final seconds of the first quarter, the Dutchmen did it again to close the opening half.

Derek Brandt picked off a Gabe Dace pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown with :02 ticks until halftime. Whelan’s third extra point of the game gave OHS a 21-6 halftime lead.

Starting the second half with the football, 

Owensville chewed up nearly half of the third quarter before adding to their lead.

Adding to his pick-six to end the first half, Brandt caught a 7-yard TD pass from Decker at the 7:33 mark of the third quarter.

Owensville now led Sullivan 27-6 following Whelan’s missed extra point.

Later in the quarter, the Dutchmen turned to the screen pass following another Eagle turnover.

Decker found Austin Lowder who did the bulk of the work on a 41-yard TD reception in the closing moments of the third period.

Running in the two-point conversion, Whelan gave the Dutchmen a 35-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Both teams went scoreless over the final 12 minutes as Owensville maintained their stranglehold on the second spot in the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 4 standings.

Through the air, Decker went 21-33 for 195 yards passing with four touchdowns and one interception.

Lowder led the Dutchmen ground attack with 66 yards rushing on 13 carries. Decker also ran for 60 yards on 13 carries.

Brandt paced the Dutchmen receiving corps with nine catches for 79 yards receiving and a score.

Lowder caught two balls for 46 yards with both receptions going for touchdowns.

Dezmyn Moore also caught five balls for 35 yards while Bryce Payne had three catches for 23 yards. Landon Valley also had a reception for seven yards.

In addition to Brandt’s interception return for a touchdown, Tanner Meyer recorded an interception late in the third quarter stalling another possible Sullivan scoring drive.

Gavin Loague and Lowder each also recovered fumbles helping the Dutchmen offense turn those Eagle miscues into points throughout the game.

Brent Helmig and Brandt led the Dutchmen defense with 10 total tackles apiece.

Eli Wilson narrowly missed double digits with nine total tackles followed closely by eight total tackles from senior Alan Kopp.

Normally a quarterback on Monday nights, Blake Elliott contributed seven tackles on defense Friday night for the Dutchmen.

Now 6-2 on the season, OHS has another big game with district implications coming up Friday night against St. Clair’s Bulldogs at Dutchmen Field.

An Owensville victory and a Priory loss to Lutheran (St. Charles) this weekend will in all likelihood give the Dutchmen the top seed and home-field advantage during the upcoming MSHSAA Class 3, District 4 Tournament.

Monday night, OHS’ JV Dutchmen fell at Sullivan 40-16.