WAPAKONETA — The Ottawa-Glandorf Titans pulled off a critical 27-24 road win against the defending Western Buckeye League (WBL) champion Wapakoneta Redskins on Friday night at Mercy Health/Wapak Ford Field, maintaining their undefeated record at 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference. The victory snapped a long drought for the Titans, marking their first regular-season triumph over Wapakoneta since the 2012 season. It also represents Ottawa-Glandorf's best start since the 2016 squad began their year 7-0.
The game's momentum swung decisively in the fourth quarter when Ottawa-Glandorf senior linebacker Carson Yaeger recovered a Wapakoneta fumble with 9:10 left on the clock. At the time, the Titans were trailing 24-20, having just thrown an interception in the end zone on their previous possession. Yaeger attributed the play to ongoing coaching emphasis, stating he “saw it on the ground, went and dove on it.”
Following the critical turnover, Ottawa-Glandorf wasted no time. Two plays later, sophomore quarterback Tanner Vogt connected with senior receiver Gage Bellman on a 24-yard touchdown pass to the left corner of the end zone, giving the Titans a 27-24 lead. This was Bellman's second touchdown of the game. First-year Ottawa-Glandorf coach Ben Kaufman indicated that the team seizes opportunities to “attack and not kind of sit back and get comfortable” when momentum shifts.
Wapakoneta, the defending WBL champions, dropped to a 1-3 overall record and 1-2 in conference play following the loss. Redskins coach Travis Moyer acknowledged the impact of turnovers, stating that they “are a big part of the game.” He added that his team emphasizes ball security, but “We lost one tonight.”
Ottawa-Glandorf's offense showcased both explosive plays and patient drives throughout the matchup. Quarterback Tanner Vogt was central to their success, completing 18 of 25 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing 20 times for 121 yards and an additional touchdown. Receiver Deegan Miller was a key target, making eight catches for 163 yards and a 51-yard touchdown just before halftime. The Titans significantly outgained the Redskins overall, totaling 505 yards compared to Wapakoneta's 291 yards, with their offense nearly evenly split between air (52.6%) and ground (47.4%) plays.
The game was a tightly contested affair, with neither team ever leading by more than seven points. Wapakoneta struck first with a 2-yard touchdown run from quarterback Daron Houser just four minutes into the game. Houser also threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Blake Rogers in the second quarter, giving the Redskins an early 14-7 advantage. Ottawa-Glandorf responded with a 39-yard touchdown run by Vogt and Miller's 51-yard scoring catch. Before halftime, Wapakoneta kicker Drew Niekamp connected on an impressive 47-yard field goal, bringing the score to within three points.
Wapakoneta reclaimed the lead with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter on a 93-yard touchdown run by Gauge Vaughn, which came just one play after Ottawa-Glandorf had a fourth-and-6 pass knocked away in the end zone. Vaughn led the Redskins' rushing attack with nine carries for 113 yards. The Redskins utilized a dual-quarterback approach, with Daron Houser completing 7 of 8 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, and Tyler Moyer completing 2 of 4 for 26 yards. Blake Rogers led Wapakoneta with four catches for 52 yards.
Despite Ottawa-Glandorf's offensive prowess, they also endured prolonged drives that didn't result in scores, including a 15-play drive to start the second half that stalled seven yards from the goal line, and a 17-play drive that ended in an interception by Wapakoneta’s Trent Lisi in the end zone. Coach Kaufman admitted that up until the point of the fumble recovery, Wapakoneta’s “defensive line was owning us.” He said the team challenged the offensive line to sustain a longer drive and take time off the clock.
Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Coach Kaufman emphasized its significance for his team, stating, “This win means a lot.” He added that the team “worked for it” and deserved to enjoy the moment, believing that it's time for them to continue winning.
