Titans falter against Cusick, but defeat Soap Lake's Eagles

At Cusick on October 11, the Titans lost to even up their season win-loss record at 3-3.

O-H 14 0 0 8 22

Cusick 14 12 14 6 46

In the first quarter, Cusick scored first on a 10-yard run, but their extra-point attempt was no good. O-H then responded with a touchdown on a 5-yard run by Steven Braun. Then Carsen Weber caught a pass from quarterback Sam Schafer for the extra two points. Cusick answered with another TD on a 15-yard run; the extra-point attempt was good. O-H closed out the quarter’s scoring with a 5-yard run by Schafer. The extra-point attempt was no good, leaving the score 14-14.

The second quarter was all Cusick, scoring on a 5-yard run with a successful two-point conversion and closing out the half with two safeties (two points each).

After the half, the third quarter was again all Cusick, scoring on a 2-yard run and successful two-point conversion on the ground and again on a10-yard run, with the point-after attempt no good.

In the fourth quarter, Cusick scored on a 1-yard run; the extra-point attempt was no good. O-H got its final score on a 55-yard pass to Weber from Schafer. Braun ran the ball for the extra two points.

Braun had 60 yards rushing, one TD, 70 yards on kick returns; Schafer 96 yards rushing, 168 yards passing, 5 for 17 passing, 1 interception, 1 TD run; Weber 110 yards receiving on 3 catches.

Defensively, Weber had 8 solo tackles, 2 assists; Jacob DeWulf 8 solo tackles, 4 assists; Braun 5 solo tackles, 3 assists, 1 interception; Schafer 8 solo tackles, 4 assists, 1 interception; Dakota Largent 3 solo tackles, 3 assists; Sage Elder 8 solo tackles, 4 assists; Dillon Dennison 3 solo tackles, 3 assists; William Mann 2 assists; Max Greenwalt 2 solo tackles, 1 assist.

Coach Bruce Todd was rather disappointed after the Cusick game, citing, “Poor team performance on both sides of the ball. [We] did not play well as a team.”

Also on the downside, Nathyn Winslow fractured a kneecap to become the fourth key player the team has lost to injury.

O-H vs. Soap Lake

Playing at Lions Field in Moses Lake on October 18, the Titans redeemed themselves with a 58-38 win over Soap Lake in league play, putting their record at 4-0.

O-H 22 12 16 8 58

SL 0 16 8 14 38

The Titans had a strong first quarter, scoring on a 15-yard run by Schafer, followed up with a completed pass to Weber for 2 extra points. O-H then scored on a 5-yard run by Braun, but the pass attempt for two more fell incomplete. An 80-yard run by Schafer, who also ran for the succesful two-point conversion, capped a shutout first quarter.

In the second quarter, Soap Lake got on the scoreboard with a 75-yard pass play for a TD, followed by a completed pass for two more. O-H responded with a 70-yard run by Schafer, who again ran in the extra-points. O-H added 6 more on a one-yard run by Elder, with Schafer running in the two-point conversion. To end the half, Soap Lake completed a 15-yard TD pass, followed by another pass play for two more.

In the third quarter, Soap Lake scored on a 3-yard pass, followed by a completed pass for the extra two points. Schafer scored again for O-H on a 10-yard run and scampered into the endzone for two more. Schafer added an 85-yard run, with Dennison running the ball for two more.

Soap Lake opened the fourth quarter with a 5-yard pass play for a TD and also made the 2-point conversion. Dennison ran for 2 yards, with Elder getting the two-point conversion. Soap Lake made the final score on a 15-yard pass, with the extra-point attempt no good.

Offensively, Schafer had 404 yards rushing on 15 carries, was 3 for 6 passing for 45 yards, 1 interception, 5 rushing TDs; Braun 59 yards rushing, 30 yards receiving, 55 kick-return yards, 1 rushing TD; Dennison 35 yards rushing, 1 rushing TD; Elder 22 yards rushing, 1 rushing TD; Largent 15 yards receiving.

On defense, Weber had 5 solo tackles, 3 assists; DeWulf 45 solo tackles, 3 assists, 1 sack; Schafer 5 solo tackles, 2 assists, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions; Largent 5 solo tackles, 2 assists; Dennison 2 solo tackles, 4 assists, 1 interception; Braun 5 solo tackles, 3 assists; Elder 5 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack; Joey Buell 1 solo tackle; William Mann 3 assists; Caleb Behrens 1 solo tackle, 2 assists.

“We had much better team speed and were more physical and aggressive on both sides of the ball,” Todd said. “Our running game was very effective against their defense. They didn’t give us room to pass the ball. Our defensive line applied consistent pressure on their QB. Our passing game was not as strong as we would have liked, but when the running game is effective, there isn’t much call to pass. Our defense against the pass was inconsistent. We would have good pressure on some passes, then allow too much room for the receiver. They are a decent team, much improved from last season. Their QB throws a nice ball and they have a couple of decent receivers. They did not have or show much of a running game.”

The Titans’ Steven Braun separated a shoulder in the game. His condition was unknown at press time.