GAME NOTES

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein football team looks to pick itself back up Saturday night after an overtime loss at nationally-ranked Heidelberg, welcoming Baldwin Wallace under the lights as part of Hall of Fame weekend. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Cardinals and Yellow Jackets will enter holding identical records of 4-2 overall and 3-2 within Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play. Otterbein seeks to rise from a narrow 48-45 defeat at Heidelberg in what was a back-and-forth game, decided by the slimmest of margins in a raucous environment.

"I was really proud of the guys," head coach Tim Doup reiterated this week. "They played so hard despite trailing the entire game. I could see in their eyes how hard they were competing and knew we would be right there at the end. It obviously hurts, and it's supposed to hurt. But I saw what they were made of as human beings. Now we pick ourselves up and move forward."

Quarterback Logan Stepp had four total touchdowns and finished with 461 yards of total offense, matching his school record of 477 before a pair of sacks in overtime dropped him back down. He remains top-10 nationally in points responsible for and total offense per game (345.0).

Senior wide receiver Julian Lowe did all that he could at Heidelberg, catching 11 passes for a career-high 178 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and was on the field for every offensive play. The effort helped alleviate the second-half absence of Hunter Joseph, who was dinged up shortly before intermission and did not return.

"I've never seen anybody with as much energy and passion that Julian has," Doup said. "Practice to him is a game and everything is always 100 percent, so there is nothing different for him when Saturday's roll around. The Heidelberg game hurt everybody, but I've never seen him that upset after a game because he did so much. He was exhausted at the end after dealing with double coverage most of the second half. I expect him to keep rolling no matter the circumstances."

Freshman defensive back Brandon Paschal is the current OAC 'Defensive Player of the Week' after a strong effort, making 11 tackles (10 solo) and picking off Heidelberg QB Tyler Stoyle twice. Paschal now ranks fourth in the country in the category, with Otterbein 12th as a team.

"We ask him to play a lot of man coverage but also stop the run when it comes into the boundary," Doup said. "It's not easy, but he's taken on everything we ask and has been a great surprise. He's grown from camp until now, showing that he can make big plays."

Freshman kicker David Hoyle turned heads last week, burying a 49-yard field goal with :08 left to force overtime in his first start of the season. His father, Jim, was an All-American placekicker for the Cards and is now in the Hall of Fame.

"He told me his range was 50 yards in pregame and I had that in my mind as we were driving at the end of regulation," Doup said. "For a freshman to come in, shrug off his first kick that was blocked, and hammer one of that magnitude was very impressive. We always talk about next-man up and David certainly seized his opportunity. I like the somewhat cocky edge that he brings to the position because it keeps him cool and collected when it matters most."

Otterbein earned a 33-30 victory last year at Baldwin Wallace, using a short rushing TD from Isaiah Richmond in the closing minute to jump ahead for good. Senior defensive end Kyle Blust earned weekly honors from the OAC after 10 tackles (four for a loss) and one sack despite playing with strep throat.

BW enters fresh off a 23-20 win over Muskingum after freshman kicker Brandon Vollmer made his third field goal with 2:14 remaining. He is the reigning OAC 'Special Teams Player of the Week' as a result.

The Yellow Jackets are led by first-year head coach Jim Hilvert, who guided Cincinnati La Salle High School to consecutive OHSAA State Championships in 2015 and 2016. Prior to that, he compiled a 67-19 record over eight seasons at Thomas More College.

Dual-threat quarterback Jake Hudson paces the BW offense, completing 57% of his passes for 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. The junior has also rushed a team-high 78 times for 272 yards.

Wide receiver Chad Steinwachs has team-highs of 19 catches and five touchdowns, while the defense is spearheaded by 47 tackles from senior linebacker Sam Groff. Classmate Trypp Washington oversees the secondary, tallying 40 tackles and a team-best five pass breakups thus far.

Despite last week's disappointment, Doup expressed the motivation and excitement that his team has to take on Baldwin Wallace.

"My guys are ready to play," Doup explained. "They were actually ready to compete again right away after Heidelberg. We are anxious to get back on the field against another team with the same record as us. There is something new to play for every week and a lot to make right. It will be a big game for us when you assess the 10-week schedule."

Otterbein will also welcome six individuals to its Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, bringing the list of inductees to 92. Those making up the newest class include; Mark Burns (XC/Track – 1983), Ralph Picklesimer (Football – 1950), Tim Pond (Men's Basketball – 1967), Dan Remenowsky (Baseball – 2008), Carol Roe Smith (Women's Basketball – 1969) and Ray Watts (Coach/Administrator – 1918).

Watts, who is also in the Baldwin Wallace HOF, and Picklesimer will be honored posthumously. Each inductee or representative will be recognized during halftime of the game.