Last Thursday night at Dutchmen Field, Owensville Middle School seventh and eighth-grade football players played under the jurisdiction of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) for the first time after playing on Saturday afternoons in the Washington Junior Football League (WJFL).

Welcoming St. Clair’s Bulldogs to Owensville High School, OMS’ Dutchmen recorded several firsts during the opening game of MSHSAA-era middle school football.

Owensville’s Brody Christensen delivered the first kickoff by a Dutchmen while St. Clair’s Landin Baynes became the first opposing player to kick a ball off at the start of the second half.

Committing the first penalty by either team, St. Clair was flagged for a block in the back which nullified a 57-yard touchdown run.

St. Clair’s Jaxen Duvall picked up the first first down by an opposing player on a 12-yard run at the 6:33 mark of the first quarter. Making the tackle on that play was Owensville’s Robbie Rodriguez for the first stop by a Dutchmen defender.

Later in the drive, St. Clair’s Tyler Travis became the first opposing player to score on a 22-yard touchdown run with 5:17 for the first quarter. Carter Garrett then found Landen Miller for the first two-point conversion by an opponent.

Owensville’s Will Brune carried the ball on their first three plays before picking up the first first down by a Dutchmen on a six-yard run at the 3:36 mark of the first quarter.

Rodriguez recorded the longest play of the drive with a 19-yard run on fourth-and-two at the 1:03 mark of the first quarter.

Two plays later, OMS was flagged for a false start penalty marking the first miscue by the orange and black.

Early in the second quarter, Duvall recorded the first sack by an opposing player.

Moments into the fourth quarter, Dutchmen quarterback Brayden Oldfather connected with Joseph Bruno on a 29-yard pass play marking the first pass completion by OMS football.

Falling 28-0 to the visiting Bulldogs, Owensville’s seventh-grade Dutchmen will get another chance at their first points tomorrow (Thursday) night on the road in Union.

Next on the field were Owensville’s eighth-grade Dutchmen and St. Clair’s Bulldogs.

Tucker Crosby delivered the first kickoff by an eighth-grade Dutchmen while St. Clair’s Jordan Schmidt ran the first play from scrimmage by an opposing player.

On the next play, Tanner Voorhees picked up the first first down by an opposing player on an 11-yard run at the 7:05 mark of the first quarter.

Five plays later, Voorhees added another first when he scored on a 39-yard touchdown run marking the first scoring play by an opposing player.

Eli Dierker found Voorhees on the first two-point conversion pass in eighth-grade football action by an opposing team.

Bo Buddemeyer ran Owensville’s first play from scrimmage for a six-yard pickup.

Later in the first quarter, OMS was flagged for a false start marking the first penalty by the eighth-grade Dutchmen.

Minutes into the second quarter, Rylee Schuchardt recovered the first fumble by a Dutchmen defender before St. Clair’s Landen Smith recorded the first interception by an opposing team.

Already with a pair of rushing touchdowns to his credit, Voorhees scored the first punt return for a touchdown early in the second quarter.

Seconds later, Schmidt scored the first safety by an opposing team.

Holding on to the football the entire fourth quarter, Owensville picked up their first first down of the game when Peyton Pohlmann turned a third-and-five into a first down at the Bulldog 39-yard line following a 17-yard run.

More first-down runs by Cohen Dare, Buddemeyer and Pohlmann nearly led to their first touchdown of the season before time ran out.

Like their seventh-grade counterparts, OMS’ eighth-grade Dutchmen will look to find the scoring column for the first time on the road tomorrow (Thursday) in Union.

OMS’ next home game at Dutchmen Field will be on Thursday, Sept. 26 when St. James’ Tigers pay a visit to Gasconade County with a 5 p.m., kickoff for the seventh-grade contest.