Ottawa closes out season with overtime loss to Rochelle

ROCHELLE – During a season in which they didn’t know whether they’d get to play, the Ottawa Pirates did not get the win for which they were fighting so hard.

But they sure did get close … and a lot better.

That proved true Friday night at Rochelle Township High School, where the Pirates closed out this COVID-19-affected spring season with a 39-38 overtime loss to the host Hubs. Ottawa (0-6) led at the end of the first quarter, at halftime and for more than half of the fourth quarter before the Hubs (2-4) tied the game with 4:10 remaining.

In overtime, OHS scored first but missed its two-point conversion try.

Two plays later, Rochelle scored as well, and for the first time all night a kicker strode out to attempt a PAT kick. Marco Castro’s kick proved true, sending the Hubs and their fans into a wild celebration and the Pirates to the program’s 14th straight defeat. However, Ottawa has some positive momentum to build from after taking a leap forward in its on-the-field competitiveness.

“That was our message here: These kids have nothing to hang their heads about,” Ottawa coach Chad Gross said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get a win in this overtime game – a great football game – but I’m very proud, especially of my seniors, to go out with a game like that.

“They left everything out there – just a great effort.”

It was indeed a thrilling finale, with the Pirates putting up 390 yards of offense led by junior quarterback Braiden Miller’s 12 for 23 day passing for 172 yards; senior wide receiver Briar Naggs’ 93 yards receiving on five catches; and senior RB Bryant Schomas’ hard-nosed finale of 138 yards, three touchdowns and four two-point conversion runs.

“Everybody’s effort was outstanding this year,” Schomas said. “From the first day of lifting to practice to today, it’s just a brotherhood in here. Everybody’s tearing up right now [knowing it’s over], but it was a great season.

“From this year alone, this program is going to continue to grow. I’m just happy to have been a part of this team.”

Schomas’ touchdown runs from 5 yards out in the first quarter, 1 in the second and 1 again in the fourth combined with a 51-yard reverse option TD pass from Jacob Serby to Ryan DeMoss just over two minutes before halftime accounted for Ottawa’s scoring.

It was offset, however, by Rochelle’s 361 yards, all on the ground, led by Crue Larsen (115 yards, two TDs, two two-point conversion runs in regulation), Ben Harvey (93 yards, 1 TD) and Garrett Gensler (64 yards, 1 TD).

A Conner Price interception of Hubs quarterback Josh Lloyd with 33.4 second remaining in regulation – Price’s second INT of the day to go with a touchdown-saving pass defense – preserved the 32-32 tie and sent things to overtime.

There, the Pirates got the ball first, moving from the 10-yard line to the 5 in three plays. On fourth down, Miller found Serby over the middle, and the senior made a juggling catch in traffic to give the Pirates a 38-32 lead.

The Hubs would get their chance, however, and after only two plays, Larsen was back in the end zone and the game was knotted again, 38-38. After a timeout, Castro – a lineman who had recorded a key interception of Miller earlier in the game – came onto the field and kicked it through, making the game’s lone PAT kick the game-winner.

Defensively for Ottawa in addition to Price’s big game, Dillan Quatrano recorded 16 tackles (eight solo); Dominic Gende notched two tackles for loss; and Ryder Miller, Ryan Jones and Adam Weitzel added one TFL apiece.

Serby with 36 yards receiving and the 51-yard touchdown pass, along with Javarius Whitfield with 35 yards rushing, also led the Pirates.

Ottawa is scheduled to open the fall 2021 season Aug. 27 at Sandwich.