Box Score
Game Day Photos
NEW CONCORD – The Otterbein Cardinals claimed their first Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory of the season, using a late score to drop Muskingum, 17-13, at McConagha Stadium Saturday.
The win breaks a stretch of five-consecutive OAC losses for the Cardinals, who came out on the positive end of a close conference game for the first time this year, as four of their five losses had come by six points or less. With the victory, Otterbein improves to 2-5 overall and 1-5 in the OAC while Muskingum drops to 4-3 overall and 3-3 in the OAC.
The Cards scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:54 remaining in the game on a 2-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Austin Schlosser. The score capped off an 11-play, 68-yard scoring drive that started at the 7:17 mark.
After a defensively dominated first quarter, Otterbein broke open the scoring first when Schlosser connected with senior wide receiver Trey Fairchild on a 65-yard pass. Junior defensive back Shea Brintlinger’s interception on the ensuing Muskie possession led to a 25-yard field goal by junior Aaric Milligan, making the score 10-0 before taking a 10-3 lead into halftime.
Defense continued to be paramount in the third quarter until Muskie running back Anthony Frye broke a 68-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 10-10 with 2:21 left. After forcing a Cardinal punt, the Muskies put together another scoring drive resulting in a field goal to lead 13-10 with 12:50 remaining in the game.
The Cardinals retook possession with 7:17 remaining and used a 31-yard connection from Schlosser to senior wide receiver Steve Kuzyk to reach the redzone before punching in the go-ahead touchdown.
The Muskie defense came into the contest second in the conference, give up just 262.5 yards per game, but the Cardinal offense put up 356 yards of total offense. Schlosser completed 21 of 33 passes for 314 yards and one touchdown. Fairchild was his main target, grabbing seven passes for 122 yards while Kuzyk totaled 100 yards on six catches. Senior defensive back Anthony Korpieski led the team defensively with six tackles and four pass break-ups.
Frye ended the day with 120 yards on 16 carries for Muskingum, while quarterback Dalton Smith threw for 185 yards on 14 completions.
The Cardinals remain on the road next week to face No. 2 and undefeated Mount Union Oct. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
