On a bright and windy day at AdventHealth Field in Ottawa, Kansas, the University of Saint Mary Spires faced off against the Ottawa Braves in a closely contested Saturday afternoon game. The contest showcased a back-and-forth battle between the Spires and Braves, though ended in a 35-27 victory for Ottawa.

The Spires demonstrated grit, managing to tie the score at 14-14 by halftime. Notable offensive contributions came from Kameron Smith with a thrilling 67-yard touchdown rush and Michael Gazzana, who made significant impacts with touchdown receptions of 33 and 75 yards. Delvin Lewis also added to the score with a 27-yard touchdown reception.

Despite tying the game twice, USM fell short as Ottawa secured a late touchdown to clinch the win. On the defensive end, Wyatt Ramsey was pivotal for the Spires, amassing 14 tackles. Amari Akins's efforts included a crucial forced fumble, while Zakary Rocha provided significant yardage on kick returns which kept the Spires competitive.

Looking ahead, Saint Mary's next match up is set against the Bethany Swedes on USM home turf at Berkel Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 13^th with a 6:00 p.m. kick-off.