Box Score

TIFFIN, Ohio – The Cardinal football team suffered its first Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) loss Saturday afternoon on the road, leading for most of the first half before ultimately falling 49-31 in a wild contest at Heidelberg University. As a result, the Student Princes retain the Rhine River Cup for a fifth-straight season.

The Cardinal offense was clicking on all cylinders to begin the game, taking the opening kickoff 80 yards in 11 plays, capped with a 2-yard touchdown run from wide receiver Cole Benner out of the wildcat formation.

Heidelberg responded immediately, getting a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Bryan Lacey to temporarily halt the Otterbein momentum. Defensive end Kyle Blust blocked the ensuing Heidelberg extra point, leaving the score 7-6.

Otterbein quickly countered on its next possession, driving 70 yards on just six plays and under three minutes for another touchdown, this time coming on a 23-yard aerial strike from Kevan Green to Benner.

The Student Princes continued the hectic pace the next time they had the ball, rumbling 62 yards in 12 plays and finishing with an 11-yard touchdown connection from Tyler Stoyle to Nick Delisa. The Berg' attempted a two-point conversion in hopes of drawing even, but a pass play was broken up.

Green and the Cardinal offense continued moving the ball with a third-straight touchdown drive, embarking on a 12-play, 75-yard sequence that lasted 5:33. The stretch was capped by a five-yard touchdown from Benner to Julian Lowe on a shovel pass from the wildcat, bumping the advantage to 21-12.

Otterbein had two prime opportunities to widen the lead even further after recovering a Heidelberg fumble and also getting a nice punt return from Connor Lucas, but came up empty in Berg' territory both times.

The Student Princes soon grabbed all of the momentum to finish the first half, scoring a touchdown with 4:01 remaining and then taking over again in Otterbein's end after the Cards mishandeled a punt snap. Heidelberg coach Mike Hallett rolled the dice on a 4th down and 12, scoring a touchdown to stun the visiting crowd and take a 26-21 halftime lead.

Heidelberg carried their offensive energy into the second half, reaching the end zone on its first three drives to force the contest into a shootout. Otterbein attempted to keep pace, getting a 21-yard field goal from Abass Ceesay and a 13-yard TD connection from Green to Lowe that kept it a two-score game.

The Student Princes appeared poised to put the game away with a fourth-straight touchdown, but fumbled on the goal line to provide Otterbein new life, for the time being. The Cards were forced to punt on their next drive, Heidelberg eventually kicked a chip-shot field goal with 8:54 remaining to make it a three-score game, and the climb would be just a bit too steep for the Cardinals.

Green took a fair share of hard hits on the day, but finished 30 of 45 for 362 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, marking the highest passing total for a Cardinal quarterback since Paul Stelzer had 394 against Marietta in 2007. 

Lowe caught 14 passes for 129 yards and two scores, falling two receptions shy of matching the Otterbein single-game record, which has not been touched since 1991. Benner also turned in a nice stat line, catching four balls for 136 yards and two total touchdowns. He has now scored rushing, receiving and passing this fall.

Linebacker Drew Ervin led the Otterbein defense with 13 total tackles while safety Jordan Bonifas had 11. Heidelberg outgained Otterbein 559-420 on the day, converting eight timely third downs and getting 388 yards and five touchdown tosses from Stoyle, a back-up who was making his first-career start in place of an injured Jon Sandwisch.

Demetrius Magee led the receiving game for the Student Princes, registering six catches for a game-high 152 yards and two scores. A handful of other receivers also made important catches to help move the chains.

Otterbein will be back in action next Saturday afternoon, traveling to play cross-town rival Capital University at 1:30 p.m.