UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – A slow start was too much for the Otterbein University football team to overcome, falling to host John Carroll University, 28-0, in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup Saturday.

The Blue Streaks (3-0, 2-0 OAC) outgained the Cardinals (1-2, 1-1 OAC) in total yardage, 327-228, including 218-106 in the first half, as Otterbein was shutout for the second time this season.

After both teams missed field-goal attempts on their opening drives. Blue Streak junior quarterback Mark Myers connected with freshman wide receiver Marshall Howell on a 20-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 2:30 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing drive, the Cardinals muffed the snap on the punt, giving the Blue Streaks the ball at the Otterbein 10-yard line. Senior running back DaQuan Grobsmith capitalized moments later on a 3-yard rush as John Carroll pushed their lead to 14-0.

Grobsmith would reach the end zone again on the next drive, scoring on a 37-yard run to make it 21-0 before halftime.

In the second half, junior Brick Davis replaced senior Ben Sizemore at quarterback for the Cardinals, but the offense stayed stagnant on the first drive.

In the middle of the third quarter, Myers would hit Howell once again on an 11-yard score, pushing the lead to 28-0.

The Otterbein defense settled in for the remainder of the game and began to quell the Blue Streak attack, including an interception by junior linebacker Michael Greenwell. However, the Cardinal offense never managed to put together consistent drives.

The Cardinals best chance to score came after John Carroll muffed a punt return with 2:05 left in the third quarter, giving Otterbein the ball at the John Carroll 28-yard line. The Cardinals reached the 7-yard line before a holding penalty and a sack led to a 4th-and-goal at the 26-yard line, where Otterbein was unable to connect on a 43-yard field-goal attempt.

Davis finished with seven completions on 16 attempts for 84 yards, while Sizemore totaled 98 yards on 11 completions in 18 attempts. Senior wide receiver Steven Carpenter had four catches for 50 yards, while sophomore Connor Lucas had a team-high five catches for 40 yards. Defensively, freshman linebacker Austin Jones totaled a team-high 11 tackles, while senior linebacker Eric Mitchell had 10.

Myers finished with 23 completions on 40 attempts for 226 yards with two touchdowns and one interceptions. Howell was his main target with eight catches for 124 yards and two scores. The John Carroll defense totaled seven sacks.

The Cardinals will return home to face Baldwin-Wallace University Oct. 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.