Leading 23-20 near the midway point of the fourth quarter, Randy Crowe’s Owensville Dutchmen found themselves in a good position to post their first win since the end of the 2023 season Friday night in the 2026 opener against Eldon’s Mustangs.

Giving Eldon a short field after a botched punt with 1:42 remaining, Eldon scored the eventual game-winning touchdown with 46.8 left in Owensville’s 27-23 loss to the Mustangs.

“There’s no question about the effort that our boys gave tonight,” Crowe said. “We just need to clean up some mistakes and that win will come,”

On Eldon’s first play from scrimmage, Max Hetsch recovered a fumble near the midfield stripe setting the Dutchmen up with an early chance to take the lead.

Unable to overcome three false start penalties, Owensville was forced to punt the football back to the Mustangs.

Seeing Eldon drive down to the Dutchmen 30-yard line, OHS forced the Mustangs into a turnover-on-downs at the 4:10 mark of the first quarter.

Five plays later, Owensville senior quarterback Chase Crosby streaked down the right sideline for a 36-yard touchdown run breaking the scoreless tie with :31 for the opening quarter.

Khai Krupp’s extra point put the orange and black on top 7-0 later in the first quarter.

Nearly three minutes into the second quarter, Eldon answered Owensville’s score with a 3-yard TD pass from Drew Hinds to Keyan Dinwiddie at the 8:42 mark of the second quarter.

Dayten Shadrick’s extra point tied the game at 7-7.

Thanks to a long return from Hetsch on the ensuing kickoff, Owensville got the ball back on Eldon’s 37-yard line.

Capping a drive that went eight plays, Crosby scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from 10 yards away at the 3:08 mark of the second quarter.

Krupp’s kick gave the Dutchmen their seven-point lead back at 14-7.

Eldon answered before the end of the half with a Hinds 1-yard TD pass.

Following the failed two-point conversion attempt, Owensville still led 14-13 with 28.3 for the first half.

Leading 14-13 at halftime, Owensville got the ball first to open the second half after winning the opening coin toss and taking the option to defer.

Starting at Eldon’s 43-yard line, the Dutchmen were able to drive down to the Mustang seven before Krupp kicked a 23-yard field goal bumping the Dutchmen lead to 17-13 with 3:33 for the third quarter.

The visiting Mustangs had an answer before the end of the third quarter.

Hinds found Conner Beshears on a 12-yard TD pass with 9.1 for the third quarter giving Eldon a 20-17 lead following Shadrick’s extra point.

Starting the fourth quarter with a three-and-out, Owensville punted the ball back to the Mustangs only to see the defense get it right back four plays later.

Crosby intercepted an Ethan Bennett pass with 9:30 remaining setting the Dutchmen offense up at the Eldon 42-yard line.

Three plays later, Crosby scored his third rushing touchdown from 25 yards away putting the Dutchmen back in front 23-20 after Krupp’s missed extra point.

Answering the bell again, Owensville’s defense forced another turnover on downs with 3:38 remaining.

Unable to turn that miscue into points, the Dutchmen saw Eldon escape with a 27-23 road victory.

Chase Crosby showed the way offensively for Owensville with 23 carries for 199 yards rushing and three touchdowns while also going 1-5 through the air for 14 yards passing.

Liam Rasmussen also had seven carries for 40 yards on the ground to go along with 11 yards rushing for Cohen Dare on three carries.

Wyatt Lewis also ran three times for 13 yards and had the lone pass reception for 14 yards.

Cael Walker capped the Dutchmen ground attack with nine yards rushing on three carries.

Mason Turner led Dutchmen defenders with 10 total tackles and a tackle for loss while Chase Crosby and Dare each added nine total tackles.

Hetsch chipped in five total tackles to go along with four stops from Rasmussen and Walker.

Lewis recorded three tackles to go along with two apiece from Tucker Crosby, Krupp and Gabe Myeburger.

Making one stop each for the orange and black were Kien Bayless, Brody Christensen, George Wnuk, Connor Henderson, Aiden Carpenter and Wyatt Shaw.

OHS will travel to Washington Friday night to take on the St. Francis Borgia Knights who were 41-14 winners last week against Pacific in their season opener.