By Sam Parsons
The Oskaloosa Indians hosted the Ottumwa Bulldogs on Friday night for their final non-district finale, eyeing a victory not just to get their record back to .500, but also to avenge the previous two matchups against the Bulldogs, both of which ended in heartbreaking defeats.
Early in the contest, it seemed that the 2024 edition of the rivalry was on track to have a similarly heart-pounding ending to the previous two seasons. Ottumwa got the ball to open the game and marched 73 yards downfield in 8 plays to put the game’s first score on the board, an 11-yard keeper by senior quarterback Matthew Mitchell, which made it 7-0; but it took the Indians no time at all to answer, as senior Maddux Ashman would field the following kickoff and scamper 93 yards to the Ottumwa end zone for Osky’s first special teams TD of the season. A PAT by Arabsho Davlatshoev later, and it was 7-7.
After the two teams exchanged fumbles, they again exchanged touchdowns. For the Bulldogs, senior Koby Chantalavanh picked up a pair of 20+ yard chunk gains including a 23 yard rushing TD on a pitch, but the Indians answered with an explosive drive throwing the football, as junior QB Kayne Boender hooked up with junior WR Heavon Knox for a 37 yard gain, and with sophomore WR Tyler Edgar for a 26 yard touchdown to tie the game at 14-14, which is where the scoreboard remained at the end of the 1st quarter.
The Indians would force a stop early in the 2nd quarter to set up yet another quick drive. Junior RB AJ Walker busted off a 37 yard run to get the Indians into Bulldog territory, and on the following play, Boender found senior Grady Kool deep downfield for a 31 yard pass that took Kool into the end zone for Boender’s second TD pass of the evening. After entering the game as underdogs, the Indians found themselves up 21-14 early in the 2nd quarter.
Unfortunately, it was here that the wheels fell off for Oskaloosa. Ottumwa roared down the field on their next possession, going 69 yards in 3 plays, including a 47 yard pass from Mitchell to senior TE Traevios Brown, which set up a 19 yard TD run for senior FB Cameron Manary to tie the game at 21-21 after a PAT off the foot of placekicker Joel Hallgren. After Osky punted on their next possession, Ottumwa wasted no time in grabbing the lead right back, as Manary popped off for an 86 yard TD run for a 1-play drive to give Ottumwa a 28-21 advantage.
The Bulldogs would go on to score 3 more touchdowns by the end of the half as the Indians offense got stuck in the mud just long enough for the Bulldogs to stake a multi-score lead. Manary would score another TD on a short field; Mitchell found a wide-open Brown once again on a deep play-action pass for a 61 yard TD; and Chantalavanh would add another TD to his ledger, too, as Ottumwa led 49-21 with 1:40 left in the 2nd quarter. Oskaloosa would only run 3 plays for 19 yards on the final drive before the half, and at the break, the Bulldogs were poised to start the season 4-0.
They did just that by forcing a running clock situation midway through the 3rd quarter, courtesy of a 22 yard TD run from Mitchell. Ottumwa would add two more touchdowns and Osky scored one as window dressing, and the game ended at 69-27 in favor of the Bulldogs.
Oskaloosa (1-3) will open their district schedule this Friday vs. Clear Creek Amana for their homecoming game. Coverage will begin at 7pm on KBOE 104.9 FM and kboeradio.com.
