Game Notes
Coach Doup Radio Show - Week 4

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein University football team will be back on the Memorial Stadium turf this coming Saturday, hosting cross-town rival Capital University at 2 p.m. as part of Homecoming Weekend.

The Cardinals (1-2, 1-1 OAC) are eager to get going after another close defeat last weekend, falling 16-10 to Ohio Northern University as a late touchdown pass was nullified due to offensive pass interference. Otterbein had possession in ONU territory five different times in the second half but was unable to score.

"There is a very tight line between winning and losing," Otterbein head coach Tim Doup said. "We are two possessions, or even just two plays away, from being 3-0. It comes down to a missed tackle, a missed assignment, or a key turnover. Little things can really hurt and it's put us with a 1-2 record."

Otterbein now regroups to take on Capital, a school it has defeated four-straight times after last year's 49-34 triumph in Bexley, which helped the Cards regain a 44-43-3 series edge. Otterbein opened a 49-21 early in the fourth quarter before a pair of late Capital scores made the final margin closer.

The Cardinal defense was impressive again last week, allowing just three field goals as the only Ohio Northern touchdown came from its defense. Senior linebacker Nick Toledo, who had a career-best 16 tackles last year against Capital, tied for a game-high 11 last Saturday and now leads Otterbein in the category.

"We have started to make it simpler and just let them play," Doup said of his defense. "We aren't checking to check or thinking a ton… more so just going out and playing the game. We had three-goal line stands against Ohio Northern, but they still got down there. We will keep working on some things and build off the recent positives."

Otterbein wide receiver Hunter Joseph has enjoyed a strong start to the season, leading the Ohio Athletic Conference with 21 catches for 291 yards. He also has a pair of touchdowns.

Capital, behind the guidance of first-year head coach Chad Rogosheske, fell 34-0 at Wittenberg before recently tallying back-to-back wins over Muskingum and Wilmington. Running back Cory Heeter has six touchdowns while transfer quarterback Thomas Wibbeler has thrown four, with three of those going to wide receiver David Barnett.

Capital's defense has generated six interceptions already this season, four of those coming last week at Wilmington, and linebacker Derek Eibon leads the OAC in tackling with 42 stops. The Purple and White are averaging 27.7 yards per kickoff return, good enough to rank amongst the top-15 nationally.

"Homecoming can be a distraction and the rivalry with Capital can be a distraction," Doup added. "I told the guys we still need to focus on fixing ourselves and improving some of the recent mishaps. I don't think it matters who we are playing this week, but Capital naturally adds a little more emotion. We won't be successful unless we polish up the little things."

Otterbein walked away with a 50-28 victory during the last meeting at Memorial Stadium, in 2014, by racking up 544 yards of total offense and tallying three interceptions.

Fans can follow the game through LIVE STATS, LIVE AUDIO and LIVE VIDEO. Both schools will also be competing in a food drive, with any canned-food item warranting free admission to the game. All goods will be donated to the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (W.A.R.M.) and The Promise House.