By Ben Shanahan
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
ROSSFORD — In a defensive masterclass, Otsego defeated Rossford 20-19 in both teams’ Northern Buckeye Conference opener at Jackson Ferguson Stadium Friday
The Knights were just pleased to come away with a win — they had to pull out a victory in the second half after never leading in the first half.
“I am proud of the way our guys responded in the second half,” Otsego first-year coach Craig Rutherford said. “It was not looking so good. We challenged them.
“We knew they were capable of doing more. We came out fast. I would like to go clean up some, but we’ve got practice for that this week.”
Otsego improves to 3-1 overall while Rossford falls to 1-3.
Otsego accumulated 316 yards rushing to Rossford’s 99, but the Bulldogs had 143 yards through the air to just 12 for the Knights.
Otsego running back Kris Kazmaier, who scored the game winning touchdown in the fourth quarter, ran for 163 yards on 28 carries.
On the other side, the Bulldogs almost had a victory in the bag, but they could not hold on.
“We focus a lot on attitude and effort — things you can control,” Rossford coach Todd Drusback said. “If you make a mistake, you miss a block. We want you to make an effort in that, and if something bad happens, keep our focus.
“I thought we did that; I thought we played well enough to win, and that is why it hurts. I am proud of my guys.”.
The first half was an all-out war with both defenses playing old school smash-mouth football. Both offenses failed to make the line of gain on their first possessions, with Rossford punting and Otsego getting stopped on fourth down.
Off the turnover on downs, the Bulldogs grinded through a 70-yard, nine-play drive capped off with the first points on the board from senior Zaydin Morrison, who ran for a 12-yard touchdown to give Rossford a quick 7-0 lead.
Otsego’s offense was not shut out for much longer as they turned it around on their second drive, which lasted 11 plays and 74 yards, capped off with a TD run by senior Jake Limes from seven yards out. However, the Knights failed on the conversion and the Bulldogs still led by one.
The defenses returned to their dominance as Otsego senior Mason Roe intercepted a pass thrown by Rossford quarterback Tyler Clark.
The Knights could not capitalize on the turnover after eight plays, turning the ball over on downs again.
The Bulldogs were able to capitalize as Clark led his team on a seven-play 90-yard drive ending with a well-thrown 36-yard TD pass thrown to senior Gabe Garcia. Failing on the two-point conversion, Rossford led 13-6.
Early in the second half Otsego junior running back Kristopher Kazmaier carried the ball five of the seven plays during a 64-yard scoring drive, capped off with Kazmaier crossing the goal line on a 22-yard run to tie the game at 13.
The Bulldogs fired back on their next drive as Clark led a five-play 59-yard drive, running it 13 yards into the end zone and giving Rossford a 19-13 lead after the extra point kick was blocked.
Otsego’s second half offensive success continued with a 13-play, 74-yard drive to retake the lead with 10:06 remaining in regulation.
On fourth down and goal from the one-yard line, Kazmaier finished the drive by bullying his way into the end zone, and with the extra point through the uprights, Otsego had their first lead at 20-19.
“It feels great to score two (TDs),” Kazmaier said. “I could not do any of it without my offensive line. I did not expect the game to be that close, but a win is a win.”
Both defenses stood tall down the stretch, including Rossford’s on a fourth and goal late in the game, giving their offense a chance to win the game. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, penalties and a sack for the Knights clinched the win.
“I am just glad we got a little bit more speed on the defensive line this week,” Rutherford said. “Brayden Sadler came up with a big sack late. I’m proud of him, and he did what he was asked, moving from linebacker to defensive line this week. I’m proud of that and looking up at the clock to close it out.”
For Otsego, Limes ran for 59 yards on 10 carries and quarterback Mason Roe was 2-for-2 passing for 13 yards.
Clark completed 10-of-17 passes for 143 yards, Ronnie Hawkins IV led Rossford’s ground game with 47 yards on 13 carries, Morrison had 45 yards on six carries, and Clark had 20 yards on eight carries. Garcia caught three passes for 61 yards and Hawkins had one catch for 18 yards.
