Box Score Box Score

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal offense was shut down by top-ranked University of Mount Union 51-0 at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon.

With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 5-2 overall, 4-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Meanwhile, the Purple Raiders extend their regular season winning streak to 70 games and improve to 6-0 in league action, 7-0 overall.

Mount Union’s top ranked defense held Otterbein to just 96 yards of total offense, 50 of which came on the initial drive of the game. On the ground, Mount held the Cards to just 17 yards on 26 carries (0.7 per rush).

Otterbein on defense forced two Purple Raider interceptions, but allowed more than 200 yards rushing and 500 yards of total offense for the first time this season. Mount Union entered the game with only one interception thrown all year.

In his first career start, junior quarterback Ben Sizemore finished with 68 yards passing on 11 of 28 attempts. Freshman Connor Lucas led the Cardinals with three receptions for 38 yards while senior Chris Irwin had three catches for 21 yards.

On defense Otterbein was led by sophomore safety Jordan Bonifas, who finished with eight tackles, and senior linebacker Chad Pepper, who finished with seven. Senior linebacker Wes McKeever and junior defensive back Taylor Briggs recorded the Cardinal interceptions.

Freshman punter Jordan Keaton finished the game with a 41.4 average on nine punts, including a 55-yard boot and two inside the 20-yard line.

With the win, Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres passed former Alabama coaching legend Paul “Bear” Bryant for fourth on the all-time career victories list (324).

The Cardinals will look to rebound next Saturday, Oct. 27, when they travel across town to Bexley to take on rival Capital University. Kick off for the game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.