Turnovers, big plays cost gridiron Dutchmen

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 11/24/21

ST LOUIS — Fresh off their first district title in five years, Nathan Cabot’s Owensville Dutchmen football team looked to move one step closer to the Missouri State High School Activities …

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Turnovers, big plays cost gridiron Dutchmen

Posted

ST LOUIS — Fresh off their first district title in five years, Nathan Cabot’s Owensville Dutchmen football team looked to move one step closer to the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3 Show-Me Bowl at Faurot Field in Columbia.

Awaiting them in Saturday’s Class 3 quarterfinals were a very athletic Cardinal Ritter Lion football team.

Unfortunately for Dutchmen football fans, the Lions used their athleticism early and often before ending Owensville’s season at 9-3 after a 48-6 loss.

“Cardinal Ritter is a very athletic team and you simply have to tip your hat to them,” Cabot said. “We made too many mistakes and when we turned the ball over, they were able to capitalize on those turning them into points.”

Two plays into Owensville’s first offensive possession, the turnover bug bit the Dutchmen.

Senior quarterback Brendan Decker completed a pass to Derek Brandt only to see Cardinal Ritter’s Isaiah Edwards strip the football and Mike Tilman recover the fumble.

Following a 68-yard run from Artrell Miller, the Lions cashed in the turnover on a 6-yard touchdown run by running back Jamorian Parker. Denied of the ensuing two-point conversion by the Dutchmen defense, Cardinal Ritter took an early 6-0 lead with 11:30 for the opening quarter.

Owensville’s next drive saw them pick up a pair of first downs.

Faced with third-and-seven, Decker found Landon Valley for a 13-yard pass completion and a first down at the Ritter 40-yard line.

Finding themselves in another third-down situation, Decker found Brandt for another 13-yard completion turning a third-and-three into a first down at the Lion 27-yard line.

Decker finished with 133 yards through the air on 13-30 passing with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Only able to gain six more yards, OHS turned the ball over on downs back to Cardinal Ritter.

Trading fumbles and punts the rest of the first quarter, Owensville saw the host Lions add to their lead.

Antwon Mckay found Frederick Moore on a 38-yard TD pass in the closing seconds of the first quarter giving Ritter a 12-0 lead after 12 minutes of football.

Trailing 20-0 late in the first half, OHS was knocking on the door of the Lion end zone.

Set up by four consecutive Austin Lowder run plays, Owensville found themselves with a first-and-goal situation at the Ritter 6-yard line. 

Lowder ended the game with 91 yards rushing on 22 carries.

Two plays later, Lion defensive back Lawrence McConnell intercepted Decker’s pass and returned 97 yards for a touchdown giving the Lions a 26-0 halftime lead.

Down 42-0 in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, Owensville mounted a drive looking to break up the Lion shutout.

Traveling 71 yards in 14 plays, Decker found a diving Tanner Meyer on a 20-yard TD pas with 2:51 remaining getting the Dutchmen on the board.

“We knew that (Brendan) Decker would be a handful today,” Lion head football coach Brennan Spain said. “He and the Owensville team kept battling and I give them credit for that.”

After the failed two-point pass, Ritter returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to end the game.