By DOUG DONNELLY

OTTAWA HILLS, Ohio – Jake Iott gave Whiteford its first lead of the game with 8:32 left in the fourth quarter and the Bobcats held on for a 26-21 win over previously unbeaten Ottawa Hills.

The Bobcats trailed 7-0 after the first quarter, 7-6 at halftime and 14-6 through three quarters. After pulling within 14-12 in the fourth quarter, the Bobcat defense forced a Green Bear fumble that Iott scooped up and returned it seven yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

Iott scored again with 2:48 to make it 26-14 to put the Bobcats in front for good.

“He is a tremendous competitor,” Whiteford coach Todd Thieken said. “There is no quit in that kid. He just goes all of the time.”

Whiteford (3-0) also got a touchdown on a Tre Eitniear to Ryin Ruddy pass and a Drew Knaggs short run.

Iott led the Bobcats with 89 yards rushing while Eitniear passed for 76 yards. Ruddy had 14 tackles and Iott 10 on defense.

“This is a huge win,” Thieken said. “This is as good of a football team that we’ll see all year.”

WHITEFORD 0 6 0 20 = 26

OTTAWA HILLS 7 7 0 7 = 21

Scoring summary

First Quarter

O – Chase Miller 5 run (Micah Walker kick), 6:49

Second Quarter

W – Ryin Ruddy 36 pass from Tre Eitniear (run failed), 8:48

O – Nick Anderson 18 pass from Miller (Walker kick), :41

Fourth Quarter

W – Drew Knaggs 2 run (run failed), 10:19

W – Jake Iott 9 fumble recovery (Kolby Masserant pass from Eitniear), 8:32

W – Iott 7 run (pass failed), 2:48

O – Reddik Pillarelli 80 kickoff return (Walker kick), 2:35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Whiteford: Jake Iott 20-89, Hunter DeBarr 15-65, Drew Knaggs 12-47, Stepan Masserant 1-4, Tre Eitniear 3-1. Totals 51-196. Ottawa Hills: Rocco Pillarelli 19-101, Chase Miller 9-21, Reddik Pillarelli 6-11. Totals 34-133.

PASSING – Whiteford: Eitniear 5-9-0 76 yards. Ottawa Hills: Chase Miller 10-17-0 73 yards.

RECEIVING – Whiteford: Ryin Ruddy 1-36, Hunter DeBarr 1-16, Jake Iott 1-15, Kolby Masserant 1-6. Ottawa Hills: Nick Anderson 3-32, Rocco Pillarelli 2-20, John Perozek 4-18, Reddik Pillarelli 1-3.