NEW CONCORD, Ohio—The Otterbein University football team escaped New Concord with a 12-10 victory over Muskingum University.

Muskingum just missed a 41-yard field goal attempt wide right with 1:08 remaining in the game, and still had a chance for victory after Otterbein failed to move the ball on the next series. Muskingum got the ball back on the 50-yard line with 35 seconds to play and moved it to the Otterbein 39-yard line before time expired.

With the win, Otterbein improved to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play. Muskingum fell to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the OAC.

"It was ugly," said Otterbein head coach Tim Doup. "But a win is a win. You have to win close games on the road. It was a very physical game."

In an offensive role reversal—Otterbein rushed to victory a week ago against Baldwin Wallace University—the Cardinals passed their way to victory today. Otterbein threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns compared to just 56 yards on the ground.

Senior wide receiver Steven Carpenter, making both touchdown receptions, put Otterbein up on the scoreboard first, hauling in a 54-yard pass from senior quarterback Ben Sizemore with 8:59 remaining in the second quarter. Muskingum senior place-kicker Caleb Carpenter hit a 39-yard field goal before the half to make it 6-3.

The Fighting Muskies opened the second half with possession and drove the length of the field in 11 plays to the Otterbein 17-yard line. Otterbein junior safety Jordan Bonifas intercepted a pass from sophomore quarterback Cody Williams in the end zone to kill the drive.

On Otterbein's very next series, the Cardinals mounted a nine play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Sizemore to Carpenter. Again, for the second time on the day, Otterbein failed to convert its extra-point attempt.

Muskingum closed out the scoring with a 1-yard rush for a touchdown from freshman running back Melvin Smith with 13:49 to play.

Sizemore finished the day with 205 passing yards, completing 13 of 21 pass attempts. Carpenter and sophomore wide receiver Jeremy McCoy each made six catches.

Freshman inside linebacker Austin Jones tallied 14 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss of four yards to lead his teammates. Senior inside linebacker Eric Mitchell made 11 stops, and senior defensive end Zack Grieves added eight stops. Bonifas, in addition to his game-saving interception, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass.

Senior All-American defensive end Pat Seesholtz aggravated a previous injury and did not play in the second half.

Otterbein returns home to face Heidelberg University next Saturday under the lights in Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.