SURPRISE, Arizona – Louisiana Christian’s perfect record was dashed Saturday afternoon after the Wildcats came up a few inches short on a fourth-down try with under three minutes remaining and Ottawa ran out the clock on a 27-24 Sooner Athletic Conference triumph.
It was the first loss in over a calendar year for LCU, 7-1 overall, 5-1 in the SAC. Ottawa, ranked 24th in the NAIA Top 25, rose to 6-1 overall, and also 5-1 in league play.
The Wildcats lost for the first time in 14 games.
Sal Palermo III played a role in all three Wildcats touchdowns, scoring the team’s only rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak and tossing a pair through the air. He finished the night completing 67 percent of his passes (22-of-33) for 174 yards.
Ethan Christman was the Wildcats’ top target in the passing game with five receptions and 60 yards including his second career score. Marc Denison came down with the other touchdown grab.
Devin Briscoe also caught five, setting a new career-high in the process in addition to topping 100 total yards of offense (104 total, 71 rushing, 33 receiving).
Daylon Charles ran for 83 yards to lead all game participants as he averaged 6.9 yards per carry Andre Reed was the top tackler for the defense with nine (five solo) on top of 1.5 tackles for loss. Ernest Simons made half of his takedowns in the Ottawa backfield, fronting the Wildcats with a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss among five tackles.
Logan Brimmer had the lone sack of the evening, and collected seven tackles plus a forced fumble while Detavius Eldridge logged a multi-TFL outing (2) and Jordan Oglesby popped the pigskin free as well. The trio of Pop McGhee, Cole Jones, and Bennie Clark III all knocked down one pass attempt apiece.
Hunter Martensson made his one field goal attempt from 31 yards away to go along with a kickoff touchback plus two PATs.
The Cats forced multiple fumbles for the first time in 2023 but could not recover either loose ball. It was only the second contest this year without a forced turnover by LCU.
Louisiana Christian will look to take out its frustrations Saturday at 2 p.m. in the annual homecoming football game at Wildcat Field.
Photo courtesy LCU Athletics