WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Cardinals take on the Fighting Muskies of Muskingum University, 2 p.m., Saturday in Memorial Stadium. It will be Homecoming on the campus of Otterbein University.
Both teams head into the game with identical records, each 3-3 overall, and each seeking to shake free from a two-game losing streak. The two teams share sixth place in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with 2-3 league marks.
The Cardinals, under head coach Joe Loth, who is in his eighth season at his alma mater, got 13 points from special teams in the first half and then went scoreless in the second half, losing, 23-13, at cross-town rival Capital last Saturday. Defensive back Dominic Jones returned a kickoff 89 yards for six points, his third return for a touchdown this season.
Muskingum, under fourth-year head coach Al Logan, scored on a 2-yard run from senior quarterback Jake Burns to tie John Carroll at 17 with 8:19 to play in the game last Saturday in New Concord. John Carroll, on its next possession, went 61 yards in six minutes for the game-winning score.
“Muskingum has a great QB in Jake Burns,” Loth said. “Their offense revolves around him.”
Burns, the all-time Muskingum record holder in total offense and passing, is averaging 220 yards of offense per game in 2010. He has thrown for 854 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 250 yards and five touchdowns.
Muskingum sits ninth in the league in total offense, averaging 261 yards a game, but ranks second in total defense, yielding 280 yards an outing.
The Muskies own OAC wins over Marietta, 31-23, and Wilmington, 3-0, while losing to Ohio Northern, 36-0, and Heidelberg, 33-21, this season.
“We must do a great job on special teams and the turnover battle will be crucial,” Loth said about Saturday’s game.
Otterbein sits fifth in the OAC in total offense, averaging 337 yards per game, and fourth in total defense, yielding 302 yards a game. The Cardinals rank second in kickoff returns, 29.4-yard average, punting, 34.3 net yards a punt, and red-zone offense, scoring on 21 of 23 chances.
Nationally in NCAA Division III, Jones ranks second in kickoff returns, averaging 37 yards a return; senior place-kicker David Brewer shares seventh place for field goals, averaging 1.33 a game, and ranks 28th in punting with a 39.5-yard average; and Coy ranks 37th in rushing at 103 yards per game.
Muskingum leads Otterbein in the all-time series, 39-28-2, which began in 1905. The Cardinals, however, have won the last six games, including a 38-21 win at Muskingum last season.
Following Muskingum, Otterbein remains at home, hosting league-leading Mount Union Oct. 30.
