Game Notes
Coach Doup Radio Show - Week 9

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein football team prepares for its final home game of the 2015 season Saturday afternoon, hosting 15th-ranked John Carroll University at 1:30 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium.

The Cardinals, sitting at 4-4 on the season and 4-3 within Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play, will be looking to get back into the win column after consecutive losses to Baldwin Wallace and, most recently, No. 1-ranked Mount Union.

"I think we are alright," head coach Tim Doup said. "I see a little more of a pep in our step this week and guys are more vocal. Playing Mount Union is what it is. We went, played, came out healthy and now it's time to move on."

Otterbein moves on to host a John Carroll squad that is 27-5 since the start of the 2013 season, when now third-year head coach Tom Arth took over the program. The Streaks, 7-1 overall and 6-1 against the OAC, have won four-straight games since surrendering a 17-point lead in a somewhat surprising 30-27 loss to Ohio Northern.

The John Carroll offense is paced by senior quarterback Jake Schaefer, in his first year as the starter after taking over for the accomplished Mark Myers. Schaefer is tied atop the OAC with 20 passing touchdowns and ranks second in passing yards, at 235.1 per game.

"He has a similar presence in the pocket as Myers did," Doup said of Schaefer. "The offensive line has only given up one sack all year, so he gets protected well and nobody can really get to him. He seems comfortable, can audible well and knows when to get rid of the ball. He is pretty good."

Running back Ro Golphin, 747 yards and eight touchdowns, helps take some of the pressure away from Schaefer while Marshall Howell and Jordan D'Orazio are nice targets through the air. Howell has 657 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns this fall.

The Otterbein defense, fighting through injuries all season, will look for a better performance after giving up 55 points in each of the last two losses. Senior linebacker Drew Ervin leads the league and ranks fifth nationally in tackling, compiling 99 stops for an average of 12.4/game. He is looking to become the first Cardinal to lead the OAC in tackles since Kieran Johnson in 2005.

Ervin isn't the only Otterbein player recording tackles, as sophomore safety Steven Carpenter now ranks fifth in the conference with 9.6 tackles per game.
Junior quarterback Joey Longhino made his first-career start last Saturday at Mount Union in place of an injured Kevan Green, but the offense struggled to produce anything against a Purple Raider defense allowing 3.9 ppg. Otterbein's offense also played that contest without receiver Cole Benner and center Jacob Schaefer.

Sophomore slot receiver Julian Lowe, despite just three catches for 14 yards at Mount Union, still ranks among the top-3 in the OAC for receptions (61), yards (725) and touchdowns (12). He and the Cardinal passing game will be going up against a JCU secondary that has 11 interceptions so far this season. The unit is benefited by the play up front of standout defensive lineman David Porter, a first team All-OAC performer who has 5.5 sacks to his credit.

Prior to the game, Otterbein will recognize 19 senior players along with equipment managers, members of the band, cheerleading squad, and athletic-training staff. This will be Doup's first four-year graduating class since he took over as head coach in 2012.

"This class is special to me because they have been with me all four years," Doup explained. "I feel pretty attached to these guys. Saturday won't be as emotional for me because I know we have one more game after that. It will be much tougher at Ohio Northern because it will probably set in that it's the last time they are with me in uniform. They are a special group."

Otterbein has won four of the past seven matchups against John Carroll, but the Streaks have taken the past two by a combined score of 94-13. Fans can follow the game through live stats, live audio and live video. All veterans and military personnel will be admitted free of charge.