The Otsego Knights held off the Tinora Rams on a hot, steamy Friday night slugfest at Justin F Coressel Stadium at Tinora High School.

On a night where the Rams honored the 2009 GMC Champion team, three big pass plays by the Otsego offence made a significant impact. A big play on defense also contributed to the Friday night win by the visiting Knights.

After forcing a Otsego punt with just over two minutes remaining, the Rams drove to the Knights 15 yard line with 41 seconds remaining in the game, but Otsego forced a Tinora fumble on fourth and five, ending the Tinora comeback attempt.

All the scoring in the game came in the first half. The visiting Knights got the scoring under way with a two yard TD run by Kristopher Kazmaier with just 14 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. The XP kick by Mason Kramer was good, Otsego led 7-0.

Between quarters, the Rams honored the 2009 team that finished 11-2 and captured the GMC title and went to the Regional Finals before falling to Patrick Henry. (Roster & pics by Sarah Harris below)

The Rams first points in the 2024 season came on a safety by defensive lineman Alec Schaublin. Schaublin hit Knights RB Keeghan Hutton in the endzone for a safety, cutting the Otsego lead to 7-2 with 9:14 remaining in the first half.

With 7:31 remaining in the first half, a 10 yard TD pass from the Knights Kaidyn Hutton to brother Keeghan Hutton gae Otsego a 13-2 lead, the XP by Kramer was good, pushing the lead to 14-2.

Tinora finally found the endzone with a electric 48 yard catch and run by Trenton Delarber on a TD pass from Domonic Graziani with 2:31 remaining in the first half, the Jacob Bishop XP pulled the Tinora Rams to within 14-9.

Teams went to the half with the score 14-9, Otsego with the lead.

Both teams traded punches in the second half with neither team threating until the Tinora last ditch drive in the closing minutes.

Otsego and the Tinora Rams both struggled on offence, the Knights compiled 217 total yards, while the Rams mounted just 173 total yards.

Otsego starts the season at 2-0. The Knights will host Liberty Center on Friday.

Tinora falls to 0-2. The Rams will travel to Archbold next Friday.

OTSEGO 7-7-0-0=14
TINORA 0-9-0-0=9

Tinora Passing: Graziani 9-27-122-0-1
Rams rushing: Graziani 13-15 yards, Delarber 4-15 yards, Luellen 7-21 yards
Rams Receding: McQuilin 1-4 yard, Bishop 1-0 yards, Delarber 4-83 yards, 1 TD, Schaufele 3-25 yards.

Otsego passing: Hutton 5-15-106-0-0
Otsego rushing: Keeghan Hutton 19-27 yards, Limes 7-30, Kaidyn Hutton 8-2 yards, Kazmaier 9-42-1 TD, Kramer 5-10
Otsego receiving: Lampe 1-18, Vollmar 2-41, Keeghan Hutton 1-10-TD, Krammer 1-47,

Friday Night Finals below:

2009 Football Team

Lucas Schroeder
Garrett Schafer
Ryan Timmons
Ethan McKenney
Lyndon Benecke
Blake Foor
Alex Purnell
Curtis Hansford
Blake Reiman
Phil Stokey
Britt Gerken
Damien Willit
Chad Zolman
Jacob Norden
Jeff Schliesser
Austin Helmke
Andy Hicks
Alex Batt
Landon Drewes
Brock Reiman
Cody Nagel
Alex Moser
Ethan Gerken
Austin Little
Lincoln Cereghin
Wes Gilbert

Tyler McKenney
Austin Farrington
Marshall Gerschutz
Von Helberg
Austin Dangler
Brad Camp
Tyler Jehanyar
Aaron Urivez
Coty Hansford
Brady Schafer
Dillon Rumbaugh
Kipp McCann
Devin Simmons
Dillon Stites
AJ Fairchild
Justin Lighthill
Mitchell Grube
Brandon Rittenhouse
Forrest Coopman