BATH TOWNSHIP — The Ottawa-Glandorf football team continued its unbeaten streak on Friday night, defeating Bath 23-7 at Bath Stadium. This victory advances O-G’s overall record to 7-0 and their Western Buckeye League (WBL) record to 6-0. Bath, conversely, fell to 2-5 overall and 2-4 in WBL play. Ottawa-Glandorf is now one of only two undefeated teams remaining in the WBL, with Celina also maintaining a perfect record after a 45-21 win over Elida on Friday.
The win marks a significant turnaround for the Ottawa-Glandorf program, which finished last season with an 0-10 record. Junior running back Oscar Salsburey reflected on the team's current success, stating, "It's a whole different world. After going 0-10 (last season), it doesn't feel real. We're 7-0 and it feels amazing." First-year O-G head coach Ben Kaufman described the unbeaten status as "surreal," noting the players' hard work has placed them in a position where they "have no choice but to keep it going."
O-G’s defense played a pivotal role in Friday's outcome, effectively slowing down a Bath offense that had been averaging 445 yards per game, ranking first in the WBL. The Titans’ defensive unit limited Bath to just 25 rushing yards, largely due to recording three sacks on quarterback Daniel Cole. Cole completed 17 of 28 passes for 184 yards but was intercepted twice. His primary targets were Josiah Clark, who caught five passes for 79 yards, and Isaiah Clark, who had seven receptions for 74 yards.
Coach Kaufman acknowledged the strategic focus on Bath's offense, stating, "That (offense) is what they (Bath) hang their hat on." He praised defensive coordinator Coach Brian Heebsh for doing "a great job of slowing them down." Kaufman highlighted the team's adaptability, explaining that sometimes the offense needs to score heavily, while at other times, "the defense has to step up." Carson Yaeger and Jordan Schumaker each contributed to O-G's defensive effort with an interception.
After a scoreless first half where O-G’s offense accumulated only 102 yards, the team found its stride in the second half, amassing 215 yards and scoring all 23 of its points. Oscar Salsburey led the offensive surge with 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns, with 115 of those yards coming in the second half. Salsburey attributed the second-half explosion to adjustments, explaining, "In the first half, it was really hard to adapt to their defenses. We really started off slow, but then we adapted and made some changes at halftime. So, that’s why I had most of my yards in the second half." He also credited his offensive line, stating, "Without them (O-line), I wouldn’t be able to do anything. In the second half, they really stepped up, and that’s why I stepped up. We’re blessed to have such a good O-line."
Sophomore quarterback Tanner Vogt added to O-G’s offensive production, completing 14 of 23 passes for 132 yards. Vogt also rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries, scoring a 1-yard touchdown run. Coach Kaufman commended Salsburey's performance but stressed the need for the offense to start stronger, saying, "The last couple weeks, they’ve been closers, but we have to start doing that in the first half."
Bath’s lone touchdown came in the third quarter when running back Braden Mayer scored on a 17-yard run, followed by a successful kick from Isaiah Clark that tied the game at 7-7. O-G responded with a 30-yard field goal from Larson Kreinbrink late in the third quarter, giving the Titans a 10-7 lead. In the fourth quarter, Salsburey extended O-G's lead with a 16-yard touchdown run and a Kreinbrink kick, then added a 3-yard touchdown run, though the extra point was blocked, sealing the 23-7 final score.
Coach Kaufman views the team's ability to win games on either side of the ball as a key strength. He noted that "when the offense gets going, we feed off of it and the defense starts making plays." Kaufman added that nearly 40 players have recorded a tackle this season, and multiple players have interceptions, highlighting the widespread contributions across the team.
