Wildcats cruise past Ottawa for their third straight victory

Louisburg junior Isaiah Whitley looks in his touchdown catch in the fourth quarter Friday against Ottawa. The Wildcats defeated the Cyclones, 40-13.

OTTAWA — Louisburg hasn’t had the opportunity to be on the right side of a blowout so far this season, that was until Friday.

The Wildcats traveled to Ottawa and scored 33 first half points en route to a 40-13 victory over the Cyclones to give Louisburg its third straight victory.

In the process, Louisburg moved to over .500 for the first time as the Wildcats improved their record to 4-3 on the season.

“It was nice to put a full game together and take care of a team that has been able to hang with other teams for the most part,” Louisburg coach Robert Ebenstein said. “Coming out hot, and getting stops and putting the ball in the endzone was really good for us. Being able to extend some varsity times to players who bust their butt on scout team is always a goal of ours. Watching some new guys get in there and execute is what is is all about.”

Louisburg has been a run-first team all season, but the Wildcats changed it up against Ottawa and caught the Cyclones off-guard.

The quarterback-receiver combo of Declan Battle and Mason Dobbins caused the Cyclones fits for most of the night.

The two hooked-up for a 14-yard touchdown pass to open the game and competed several more down the stretch. In all, Dobbins caught five passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

“We honestly will take whatever teams want to give us,” Ebenstein said. “Ottawa obviously watched film and decided they wanted to take away the strong side run game, which left them vulnerable in other places. Mason was the guy in position to make big plays and he made them. 

“We have a comprehensive offense and can take advantages of whatever someone wants to give us we just have to make the plays when it is time to make them and Mason did just that.”

Battle was just as dangerous as he racked up 271 yards of total offense. The sophomore quarterback completed 12 of 20 passes for 164 yards and led the Wildcats in rushing with 107 yards on the ground. He also finished with four touchdowns, including three through the air.

“Declan is always ready to go no matter what we ask him to do,” Ebenstein said. “Whether it is the Eudora game and we ask him to carry the ball 35 times, or this week where we ask him to throw it 20 times. He is going to make plays, but again it just depends what the defense wants to give us as to what that will look like.”

Defensively, outside of a long touchdown run by Ottawa quarterback Noah McCullough, the Wildcat first team defense held the Cyclones in check for most of the game. 

Linebacker Nathan Vincent was all over the field for the Wildcats as he led the way with eight tackles and a fumble recovery. Senior linebacker Brandon Doles and junior safety Jase Hovey each added seven.

“Defense has been playing really well, honestly since the Piper game,” Ebenstein said. “They have put us in a position to win games every week, and Friday was just another example of that. Not noticing any one specific player on our defense is what Louisburg football is all about — 11 guys just doing their job and making plays where they need to. We did give up one long play, but to be honest we were there and just didn’t execute at that point at their quarterback made a great play.”

Following the Battle to Dobbins opening touchdown, the Wildcats answered on their next drive of the first quarter when Kolby Kattau scored on a 5-yard touchdown run. 

Early in the second quarter, the Wildcats scored their third straight touchdown on a 39-yard pass from Battle to Dobbins.

Freshman Ashton Moore recorded his first varsity touchdown on a 17-yard run to make it 26-0. After an Ottawa score, Battle found the end zone on a 9-yard touchdown run to give Louisburg a 33-6 halftime lead.

In the fourth, Battle hit junior tight end Isaiah Whitley for a 22-yard score. It was also Whitley’s first varsity touchdown. Layne Ryals’ extra point, who had four on the night, made it 40-6 and sealed the win for the Wildcats.

“The overall moral and energy of our team was the most impressive thing about Friday’s game,” Ebenstein said. “Our kids are great young men and support each other and enjoy this game and that is great to see.”

Louisburg will end its regular season this Friday when the Wildcats host rival Paola on Senior Night. 

“To be honest there are no words to describe the opportunity to host Paola in the final week of the regular season,” Ebenstein said. “Let’s just say our guys will be ready to go.”

LOU 13 20 0 7 — 40

OTT 0 6 0 7 — 13

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

L: Mason Dobbins 14 pass from Declan Battle (Layne Ryals kick)

L: Kolby Kattau 5 run (2-point failed)

Second quarter

L: Dobbins 39 pass from Battle (2-point failed)

L: Ashton Moore 17 run (Ryals kick)

O: Noah McCullough 77 run (2-point failed)

L: Battle 9 run (Ryals kick)

Fourth quarter

L: Isaiah Whitley 22 pass from Battle (Ryals kick)

O: McCullough 25 run (kick good)

STATISTICS

RUSHING — Declan Battle 17-107; Kolby Kattau 13-52; Ashton Moore 9-40; Caden Caplinger 1-9

PASSING — Declan Battle 12-20-164

RECEIVING —  Mason Dobbins 5-89; Isaiah Whitley 2-29; Caden Caplinger 2-28; Jackson Kush 1-9; Liam DeVary 1-8; Kolby Kattau 1-1

TACKLES — Nathan Vincent 8, Brandon Doles 7, Jase Hovey 7, Kolby Kattau 5, Aiden Barker 5, J.R. Rooney 5, Wyatt Holland 3, Tom Koontz 3, Layne Ryals 3, Jackson Howard 3, Noah Cowell 2, Brady Hickey 2, Carson Wade 1, Ashton Moore 1

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