Game Notes
WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein University Cardinals open Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play Saturday, traveling to Ada to take on the 12th-ranked Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
The Polar Bears, under eighth-year head coach Dean Paul, come into the game off a 38-20 win over North Carolina Wesleyan College at home Sept. 3. Ohio Northern sophomore tailback Justin Buenger rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries while the Polar Bear defense forced four turnovers.
“Ohio Northern was picked second in the league this year,” said Otterbein head coach Joe Loth, who is in his ninth season at his alma mater. “They do a great job and have a great program. They’ll be a real challenge for us this week.”
Otterbein, meanwhile, opened the 2011 season with a 28-27 overtime win at Gallaudet University Sept. 3 in Washington, D.C. Senior wide receiver Trey Fairchild caught eight balls for a career-best 196 yards along with two touchdowns. Senior linebacker Shane Centers finished with 16 tackles.
“You always feel good starting off 1-0, but when you win in overtime in a game you expected to win, you have some concerns as head coach,” Loth said. “Fortunately, we had an open week this past week and we were able to work on some of those areas of concern.”
Otterbein has won two of the last three meetings with Ohio Northern. Last season, in a game between two nationally-ranked teams, 11th-ranked Ohio Northern defeated 18th-ranked Otterbein, 34-10, in Westerville. The Cardinals trailed 14-7 at the half, but committed four turnovers in the second half. Otterbein defeated Ohio Northern, 38-36, in 2009 and, 37-7, in 2008.
“The strength of Ohio Northern’s team is their offensive and defensive lines,” Loth said.
Following Ohio Northern, the Cardinals return to Westerville Sept. 24 to take on Heidelberg University on Homecoming. The game will mark the 20th anniversary in the Rhine River Cup series. The two teams played the first-ever collegiate football game in Germany in 1992, which ended in a 7-7 tie. The Cardinals hold a 13-5-1 lead in the series, having won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including the last eight.
