After thirty-two years, the Ottawa University Braves football

team will finally get to play a home game at night on its own brand new People's Bank Field. Head football coach Kent Kessinger says this will be the first time since the first week of September 1975 that the Braves have been able to play a night game at home, due to loss of the lights over the field. He also says that the new field has allowed the team to have practices

early in the morning and later at night, when it is cooler.

The first and only, home evening game of the regular season will be held September 15, Community Day, against Friends University of Central Kansas. Kessinger says that it should be an exciting time because

they will be playing the first home night game in over thirty years on a brand new field against a strong rival.

"It should be a really good atmosphere," Kessinger said. "When you play at night, something

about the lights adds to the game."

Getting to play on the new field is pretty exciting to most of the upper-classmen, says Kessinger.

He said that freshman or transfers may have been used to playing on turf with lights previously,

but that it means more to the upper classmen who have roamed from place to place to practice, such as the home field before the new one was built, the grass practice field, the high school field and other various locations.

Junior Brad Newton is playing his third year for the Braves.

"I'm pretty excited. I like the turf. It's softer on my feet," Newton said.

"Turf is definitely an advantage

for developing our players both during practice and game time," Kessinger said.

Kessinger also said that the new People's Bank Field has been compared to those of the other schools in our conference and of those across the country.

"It's one of the best playing surfaces possible," Kessinger said.

Ottawa defeated Tabor 35-26 Saturday night in the season opener at Hillsboro.

Quarterback Kevin Mikeska led the way for the Braves rushing

for two touchdowns and throwing for another. Wide receiver Chris Simms had six catches for 65 yards and touchdown

and runningback Vashon Perryman rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive end Brandon Smith racked up seven tackles to lead the Braves defensive followed

by linebackers Bob Risch and Drew Hess who both had six tackles.

Ottawa will host Friends this Saturday in the home opener at the newly remodeled People's Bank Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m..