Football | 11/14/2004 12:00:00 AM

The Bulldogs’ 2004 came to a close win a disappointing 23-15 loss at Ottawa on Saturday. The loss completed a 4-6 season for McPherson, putting closure on a season that starting with hopes of a KCAC title and ended with a 5th place tie after back-to-back third place finishes.

Ottawa opened the game by driving 69 yards to the Bulldog five-yard line before the defense stiffened behind a Jason Henry sack and a great Zach Hicks pass break-up gave the ball to the offense at the 15. The Bulldogs advanced to just beyond midfield before punting, but then again the defense came up big. After the Braves picked up one first down, Lamar Holmes picked off his first of two passes on the day and returned it 29 yards to the Ottawa 20. With the short field, it only took four plays before Nick Griggs hit paydirt from three yards out, and Ziya Gunay tacked on the PAT kick for a 7-0 lead with 5:53 to play in the first period.

The Braves opened the second period by driving from their own 16 to the Dogs’ 33 before McPherson’s defense again stiffened, forcing a Braves’ punt, but this time it was the Ottawa defense putting the clamps on. Four snaps resulted in a –9 yards. Jacob Walden came on and boomed a 51-yard punt that was mishandled by the Braves’ return man, resulting in a –10 yard return and fumble, recovered by McPherson at the Ottawa 31. Then after Sean Eason threw an apparent interception, an interesting series of penalties ended with McPherson getting the ball back at the Braves’ 15. But, three snaps could only advance the ball to the eight, and Ziya Gunay came on a toed through a 25-yard field goal for a 10-0 with 2:51 left until halftime.

The Dog defense then held Ottawa to three and out, forced a short punt, and got the ball back at midfield with 54 seconds left in the half. Matt Hoffman broke off a 30-yard run to the Ottawa 20, and Kris Smiley gained six, but the drive stalled and Gunay trotted back on and booted his second 3-pointer with 13 seconds to go until halftime, putting the Bulldogs on top by 13 at the break. Surprisingly, McPherson had a 13-0 lead, but only 100 yards of offense to show.

McPherson was unable to get untracked offensively to open the third period, but a Walden 48-yard punt pinned the home team inside the 20-yard line. On fourth down from the Brave 24-yard line, a high snap went over the punter’s head and was downed in the endzone for a safety and a 15-0 McPherson lead with 11:41 left in the period. When the Bulldogs couldn’t sustain a drive after the free kick, Ottawa took over at their own 11 after Walden toed a 42-yard punt. But for the first time since their opening drive of the game, Ottawa put together a drive. After nine plays moved the ball to the McPherson 42, the Braves got outside the Dogs’ containment and went the distance for the score. Kris Smiley took the kickoff following the Braves’ TD, and dashed 46 yards up the east sideline to the Ottawa 46. Five plays put McPherson at the Ottawa 16, but suddenly the Braves’ defense came alive and threw the Dogs for back-to-back losses. On came Gunay to attempt a 43-yard field goal, but Ottawa was off-sides on the failed attempt moving the Bulldogs five yards closer. This time the Braves’ defense swarmed through, stuffing Gunay’s 38-yard attempt.

A series of three and outs ended with McPherson taking over with just under 12 minutes left in the contest at its own 23. But, the Ottawa defense was now controlling the line of scrimmage, and after an Eason pass to a wide open Kris Smiley was long and an Eason sack followed two plays later, Walden squibbed a punt out at the Bulldog 37. But, now McPherson was facing an Ottawa team with all the momentum. Four plays moved the ball to the 25, before a pass interference call just outside the endzone moved Ottawa to the 12. Then on third and eight from the ten, Ottawa connected on a swing pass, covering the final yards for the touchdown. Another Ottawa pass was good for the two-point PAT and the game was tied with 6:50 left.

McPherson took over at its own 19-yard line following the kickoff. After two plays picked up four yards, Nick Griggs was downed for a 13-yard loss on a pass after Eason was forced into a desperation toss after being forced from the pocket. On the next play, Ottawa picked off Eason’s pass attempt, and strolled into the endzone for the go-ahead score. Now down 21-15 with 5:30 left in the game, McPherson’s Troy McBroom leaped high to block Ottawa’s PAT kick, but in the ensuing scramble Ottawa came away with the ball and ran into the endzone. The immediate result was a conference of the officiating crew as they gathered to discuss what had just happened. After a lengthy discussion, the referee raised his arms signaling an obvious misinterpretation of the rules, but successful two-point conversion, putting Ottawa on top 23-15.

Another exchange of punts gave the ball back to McPherson at its own 11 with 2:18 left on the clock. Then began a dramatic Bulldog drive. From their own 7-yard line, Eason hit Matt Housman for 13 yards and a first down. On the next play, Troy McBroom went high to pull in a 32-yard completion. Now at the Ottawa 48, Eason hit Smiley for 11 yards. On the next play, Ottawa was flagged for pass interference, then a personal foul moving McPherson to the 11. Again Eason went to McBroom appeared to have pulled in a acrobatic, one-handed grab in the corner of the endzone, but the official signaled McBroom out of the endzone. After Eason ran for three to the 8-yard line, back-to-back incompletions ended the threat with 12 ticks left on the clock, and Ottawa took a knee to seal the win.

“This was a frustrating end to a frustrating season,” said McPherson coach David Cunningham following the game. “We just couldn’t get anything going with any consistency. You have to credit their defense for a lot of that, but when we had the opportunity to make the big play, we just couldn’t quite get it done.”

Nick Griggs ended his senior season running for 77 yards on 21 attempts, giving him 681 yards on the season. Fellow senior Sean Eason threw for 102 yards in his final appearance as a Bulldog, connecting with Smiley four times for 53 yards and three times with McBroom for 42.

“The season was disappointing. We had expectations of doing so much. Now, we have a lot of work ahead of us between now and next fall. Coaches, players, every one of us.”