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WESTERVILLE, Ohio—The Otterbein University football team used a strong rushing attack to defeat Baldwin Wallace University, 19-7, in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The Cardinals (2-2, 2-1 OAC) outgained the Yellow Jackets (2-2, 1-2 OAC) in total yardage, 391-301, including winning the rushing battle, 265-138.

"I liked (the team's) energy," said Otterbein head coach Tim Doup. "After two losses like we've had, some teams can go in the tank, but we turned it around and we worked harder. They really engaged in what we were trying to do."

Sophomore running back Drew Ervin set the pace with a career-best performance, rushing for 234 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries.

After both offenses stalled in the first quarter, Ervin jump-started the Cardinal offense with a 69-yard run down to the Baldwin Wallace 5-yard line early in the second quarter. Senior quarterback Ben Sizemore punched in a 5-yard run on the next play. The Cardinals didn't convert the PAT due to a bad snap, making the score 6-0.

"Drew is a downhill runner," Doup said. "In this kind of atmosphere, with the rain and the wetness, I thought we would be successful."

The Yellow Jackets responded with a scoring drive of their own as junior quarterback Michael Slack scored on a 21-yard run to take a 7-6 lead with 9:16 remaining in the second quarter.

Baldwin Wallace threatened again soon after, reaching the red zone with five minutes left in the half. The Yellow Jackets couldn't capitalize, fumbling at the 10-yard line with senior defensive lineman Zack Grieves recovering the loose ball.

Ervin then broke a 76-yard touchdown run, giving the Cardinals a 13-7 lead heading into halftime.

The Yellow Jackets botched another red-zone attempt in the third quarter, muffing the snap on a 25-yard field goal attempt.

Senior wide receiver Steven Carpenter set up the Cardinals final score with a 24-yard catch and run down to the Baldwin Wallace 10-yard line late in the third quarter. Sizemore then connected with junior Chester Deaton on a 2-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point conversion attempt was no good, keeping the score 19-7.

Sizemore finished the game 12 for 17 with 126 yards passing and one touchdown. Carpenter was his main target, catching six passes for 85 yards.

Senior linebackers Eric Mitchell and Wes McKeever and freshman linebacker Austin Jones totaled eight tackles each to lead the defense.

BW's Slack was 16 for 23 with 114 yards passing and 65 yards rushing with one touchdown. Senior wide receiver Josiah Holt was the Yellow Jackets' leading receiver with nine catches for 66 yards. Linebackers Dan O'Brien and David Flegal both recorded ten tackles for the Yellow Jackets.

Otterbein will travel next to Muskingum University on Oct. 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.