Shoring up the run defense.

That will be one goal entering the October portion of their schedule after Dustin Howard’s gridiron Dutchmen allowed 332 yards during their 41-24 loss Friday night to Pacific’s Indians coached by former Owensville sideline boss Paul Day.

“I’m proud of how our guys played tonight,” Day said. “Owensville always has a well-coached team and we were fortunate to get a win on their home field.”

Starting the game with the ball after Pacific won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, Owensville moved down the field looking to break the scoreless tie.

Returning from his one-game suspension, Johannes Berg kicked the Dutchmen on to the scoreboard with a 33-yard field goal for a 3-0 OHS lead at the 8:17 mark of the first quarter.

Adam Wilson then recovered a short kickoff giving OHS the ball back at Pacific’s 46-yard line.

Unable to turn that into points, the Dutchmen were forced to punt the ball back to the Indians.

Three plays into Pacific’s first offensive possession, Indian running back Arion Echols ran right up the middle for a 78-yard touchdown with 5:14 for the opening period.

Echols broke the century mark on the ground with 145 yards rushing on 14 carries and a score.

Kade Collins’ extra point gave PHS a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Penalties played their way into the second quarter of the game.

Owensville was flagged for a personal foul face mask penalty for 15 yards giving Pacific a first down on what otherwise would have been a third-and-10.

Three plays later, Pacific cashed that miscue in with a 4-yard TD run by Raidon Fowler at the 10:33 mark of the first half.

Fowler finished with 156 yards rushing on 19 carries and five touchdowns.

Collins’ kick gave the Indians a 14-3 lead.

A high snap during Owensville’s next possession gave the Indians short field at the Dutchmen 31-yard line.

Answering the bell a play later, Dutchmen senior defensive back Tanner Meyer intercepted Seth Stack’s pass giving OHS the ball back on their 44-yard line.

Pacific nearly got it back on an interception of their own but Owensville dodged a bullet when Pacific was called for defensive holding before Blake Elliott’s pass was thrown.

Trading punts later in the quarter, Owensville quickly found the end zone on their next possession.

Freshman wide receiver Chase Crosby caught a 45-yard TD strike from Elliott with 3:47 for the second quarter.

Crosby finished the night with 114 yards receiving on four catches and two touchdowns.

Berg’s kick cut the Indian lead to 14-10 late in the first half.

Before the end of the half, Collins missed a 49-yard field goal that would have given Pacific a seven-point halftime lead but instead settled for a 14-10 halftime advantage.

Third-quarter action belonged to Fowler and the Pacific run game.

Starting the second half with the ball, Pacific capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a 17-yard TD run by Fowler.

After the failed two-point conversion attempt, the Indians now led 20-10.

Forced to punt seven plays into their next possession, Owensville saw the Indian offense go back on the field.

Sparked by a Stack to Echols 32-yard completion, Fowler capped the drive with his third score of the game from six yards away with 2:38 for the quarter.

Stack threw for 136 yards on 13-21 passing with an interception.

Stack found Joseph Alivez for two points and a 28-10 lead as the third quarter drew to a close.

Another Dutchmen penalty proved costly in the fourth quarter.

A 15-yard horse collar penalty turned what would have been a fourth-and-three situation into a first down for Pacific at the Dutchmen 24-yard line.

“We’ve got to clean up the penalties and mistakes if we’re going to have success the remainder of the season,” Howard said.

Four plays later, Fowler scored his fourth touchdown of the game from seven yards out.

Collins’ kick bumped Pacific’s lead to 35-10 with 9:36 remaining.

Using his arm and his legs, Elliott helped Owensville answer Pacific’s score.

Aided by a pass interference penalty on Pacific at the goal line, Elliott connected with Crosby on a 6-yard TD strike cutting the Indian lead to 35-16 after Berg’s kick was blocked at the 7:28 mark of the fourth quarter.

Elliott finished with 226 yards through the air on 16-25 passing with three touchdowns.

Fowler capped Pacific’s next drive on a 31-yard TD run for his fifth of the game helping the Indians take a 41-16 lead after Collins’ kick was blocked.

Catching a 55-yard pass to start Owensville’s final drive, Crosby found himself over 100 yards receiving for the first time as a varsity Dutchmen football player.

Four plays later, Elliott found Isaiah Gates on a 15-yard TD strike with 3:32 remaining.

Elliott then found Gates on the two-point conversion making the final score 41-24.

“We did not execute our game plan and credit Pacific to out playing us in the ground game,” Howard said.

Jaden Gerlemann led the OHS defense with 18 total tackles followed in double digits by Hayden Shoemaker with 13 stops.

Trey Kulick led Pacific’s defense with nine total tackles followed by eight each from Brennen Davis and Jaden Thomas.