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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein football team fell to 5-4 on the season Saturday afternoon in its home finale, coming up on the wrong side of a 52-16 decision against visiting John Carroll.

The Cardinals, now sitting an even 4-4 within the Ohio Athletic Conference, still have a chance to solidify a winning season next weekend with a visit to Marietta College. Kickoff from Don Drumm Stadium is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Otterbein got the football first and drove right down the field, ultimately attempting a 40-yard field goal on 4th-and-2 that sailed wide right.

John Carroll opened a 7-0 lead towards the end of the first quarter after taking over on a short field, but the Cards responded with a 20-yard pass from Logan Stepp to junior Payton Vanderkooi on the first play of the second period.

Otterbein held a 9-7 lead later in the second following a 29-yard field goal from freshman David Hoyle, and then JCU beat the halftime clock with another TD to grab a 14-9 lead at the break.
The Blue Streaks (6-3, 6-2 OAC) ballooned its lead to 28-9 during the third quarter, which began when Ro Golphin housed a 98-yard kickoff return.

The Cards eventually countered when Stepp found classmate Julian Lowe on a 16-yard aerial score. The receiving touchdown was the 29th of Lowe's career, tying the Otterbein all-time record now shared with former All-American tight end Jeff Gibbs (1998-2001).

John Carroll put the game away with a lopsided fourth quarter, scoring 24 unanswered points that included a pair of interceptions and All-American linebacker Mason McKenrick taking one back for a touchdown.

Otterbein actually finished with a 454-366 edge in total offense and held a 31:13 time of possession, with both teams achieving 25 first downs.

Stepp, who overcame last week's leg injury to suit up and play, threw for 224 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while also rushing 17 times for 124 yards. He will need 102 yards on the ground next week to become the first player in OAC history to pass for 2,000 and rush for 1,000 yards in the same regular season.

Lowe hauled in seven passes for 84 yards while classmate Hunter Joseph corralled three for 49.

Senior defensive end Kyle Blust tallied a game-high 11 tackles while linebacker Austin Jones and safety Fred Hardgrove both had 10. Hardgrove tallied his sixth interception of the season during the second quarter, retaking the OAC lead from teammate Brandon Paschal.

JCU quarterback Anthony Moeglin completed 27 of 37 passes for four TD's and the lone pick, with Kody Kidd and Brian Kornowski both catching six passes. The Blue Streaks were 9 of 14 on third down.

Prior to the game, Otterbein recognized 20 football players and other members of the cheerleading squad, band, athletic training staff and equipment managers as part of Senior Day.