Game Notes         Coach Doup Radio Show - Week 2

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein University football team looks to get back on track after regrouping during its recent bye week, traveling to Marietta College Saturday evening for the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) opener. Kickoff from Don Drumm Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

"This is a must-win for us," said Otterbein head coach Tim Doup, who is 3-0 against the Pioneers. "It's time to get our swagger back a little bit. I told the team that the positive thing from our game against Buffalo State was that, in the second half, we never stopped playing. That should help spring us back on track."

Otterbein was outgained 501-114 in its 29-0 loss to begin the year, but hung tough after intermission with just three points allowed in the second half. The defense suffered a huge blow just one play in against the Bengals, losing two-time All-OAC linebacker Austin Jones to what is most likely a season-ending injury. Jones made a team-high 10 tackles in last year's 20-0 homecoming win over Marietta.

Senior Drew Ervin, 13 tackles in the opener, will now officially move into a starting role in Jones' absence as the defense prioritizes on stopping powerful Marietta running back Nick O'Neal. A sophomore from Mont Belvieu, Texas, O'Neal had 971 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago before kicking off this fall with 154 and one score in Marietta's opener at Denison University, a 41-14 loss.

"He is bring, strong, physical and can really run," Doup said of O'Neal, who scampered just 13 times for 61 yards in last year's meeting with Otterbein. "You name the attribute and he's got it. He came on strong last season and we'll really have to pay attention to him. Our defense will need to stay true to their assignments and gang tackle, because he's tough to bring down one on one."

The Pioneers trailed just 14-7 as the first half was coming to a close at Denison, but allowed 10 points in the final 2:30 as the Big Red ultimately pulled away. Otterbein has won three-straight and four of five against Marietta, but the coaching staff knows it will be anything but easy come Saturday night.

"This has always been a tight game," Doup said of recent matchups. "People saw 20-0 last year, but it wasn't totally indicative of the game. Marietta is a tough place to go and I'm not sure we have ever played well down there. I don't know why but, for some reason, it always turns into a battle. They are an improved football team with a lot of guys back, so it will be another test."

Otterbein hopes to see improved play from the quarterback position, as the Cardinals were forced to use three-different signal callers in a sporadic offensive effort the first time out. Senior Kevan Green, 9 of 14 for 76 yards against Buffalo State, is expected to get his second-career start.

"We made way too many mistakes in week one," Doup said. "You can't turn the ball over five times and expect to win. We have started to narrow some things down and tweak a little here and there to improve our confidence. It's not about adding anything crazy, but more so just getting better and improving those fundamentals."

Safety Jordan Bonifas and defensive end Kyle Blust turned in solid performances against the Pioneers last year in Westerville.  Blust, in just his second collegiate game, had nine tackles and 2.5 sacks while Bonifas made five stops (one for a loss) and returned an interception 86 yards.

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