Dutchmen offense struggles in season opener

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 9/3/20

POTOSI — Close, but no cigar.

Unfortunately for Nathan Cabot’s Owensville Dutchmen football team, that only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

Limited to just over 200 …

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Dutchmen offense struggles in season opener

Posted

POTOSI — Close, but no cigar.

Unfortunately for Nathan Cabot’s Owensville Dutchmen football team, that only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

Limited to just over 200 yards of total offense, the Dutchmen were inside Potosi’s 10-yard line unable to produce any points on either possession.

“We have to get our offense figured out,” Cabot said. “We had some penalties tonight that we weren’t able to overcome and we’ll have to clean those up before next week against Eldon.”

Battling the host Trojans to a scoreless tie at halftime, Owensville did not have an answer for a pair of long Potosi second-half touchdowns before falling 12-0 on the road in their season opener.

“I’m proud of our guys for the effort they gave tonight,” Cabot said. “We did a lot of good things on defense tonight.”

Spending the first six minutes of the game on defense, sophomore defensive lineman Logan Evans sacked Potosi  quarterback Andrew Coleman on third down after a holding penalty wiped a potential Trojan touchdown off the scoreboard.

“Logan (Evans) did a nice job tonight not only on defense but also on the offensive side of the ball,” Cabot said.

Owen Holtzer also had a sack for the Dutchmen.

Facing a third-and-nine on their first offensive possession, junior Dutchmen quarterback Brendan Decker hooked up with junior wide receiver Derek Brandt for a 23-yard completion for Owensville’s first first down of the season at the 4:38 mark of the opening quarter.

Decker finished the night throwing for 197 yards and two interceptions while completing 19 of his 41 pass attempts.

Penalized twice for a false start, OHS eventually was forced to punt the ball back to Potosi.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Potosi started the second quarter deep in Owensville territory.

Four plays into the second quarter, the Dutchmen defense answered the bell.

Senior TJ Whelan recovered a fumble giving OHS the ball on their 8-yard line with 10:40 until halftime from Washington County.

On the first play of their latest offensive possession, Decker connected with senior tight end TC Fisher for a 13-yard completion and a first down out to the 21-yard line.

Two plays later, Owensville was faced with a third-and-one.

Going back to the air, Decker found Brandt for a 15-yard completion and a first down moving closer to Potosi territory.

Brandt showed the way on defense with a team-high 12 tackles. TC Fisher and Garret West followed close behind with nine tackles each.

Advancing to the midfield stripe via an offsides penalty against the Trojans, OHS made their way into Trojan territory thanks to an 8-yard pass completion from Decker to sophomore receiver Bryce Payne.

Payne caught four passes for 50 yards for the Dutchmen.

Now at the Potosi 42-yard line, Owensville got backed up thanks to a running play for a loss and Decker being sacked by Trojan defensive end Brayden Isgriggs.

Now staring at a third-and-19, the Dutchmen were faced in a definitive passing situation.

Finding his fourth different receiver, Decker hooked up with Landon Valley on a 22-yard pass play for a first down at the Trojan 29 yard-line with 7:31 until halftime.

After yet another false start penalty, Decker found Valley again on a 24-yard completion setting Owensville up with first-and-goal at the Potosi 8-yard line.

Valley led OHS receivers catching eight balls for 70 yards.

Following a 3-yard pass from Decker to Valley on first down, three straight incompletions led to a turnover-on-downs and no points for Owensville at the 4:44 mark of the first half.

That was the last real scoring threat for both teams as the first half ended in a scoreless tie.

“My hat is off to the Owensville Dutchmen, the coaching staff and their kids,” Potosi head football coach Dylan Wyrick said. “They have a great group of athletes and they’re going to win some games. I’m thrilled we came away with a win against a good team.”

Trading punts to open the second half, Owensville converted a key fourth down near the midway mark of the third quarter.

Going for it on fourth-and-inches from the 15, Decker followed his blockers to pick up a yard and the first down.

Four plays later, a punt led to Potosi’s Blake Henson scoring on a 54-yard touchdown run with 6:07 for the third quarter.

OHS (0-1) will look to even their record at 1-1 hosting Eldon (1-0) Friday night at Dutchmen Field with a 7 p.m., kickoff.