GAME NOTES

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein football team hits the road for its final game of the 2017 season Saturday afternoon, traveling to take on an upstart Marietta College squad inside Don Drumm Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.

The Cardinals, standing 5-4 on the year and 4-4 within the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), are looking to solidify its first season over .500 since the 2012 campaign when they went 8-2. Otterbein has been stuck on a pair of 5-5 seasons sandwiched between.

"The difference between 6-4 and 5-5 is huge," head coach Tim Doup said. "We have to achieve a winning record and get back over that hump, not only for the program but for these seniors heading out. Our top goal every year is to have a winning record and this would make it happen."

Otterbein is looking to bounce back after consecutive losses to Mount Union and John Carroll, the top-two-teams in the league. In addition to winning the game, a pair of seniors have opportunities to etch their names in record books.

Quarterback Logan Stepp needs 102 rushing yards to become the first player in OAC history to throw for 2,000 and run for 1,000 in the same regular-season. Mount Union's Kevin Burke reached both totals during the 2013 season, but that came after 14 games when his team made a deep playoff run and he won the Gagliardi Trophy.

Wide receiver Julian Lowe needs one more touchdown reception to become Otterbein's all-time leader in the category, recently hauling in his 29th career score against JCU to tie former All-American tight end Jeff Gibbs (1998-2001). More impressively, Lowe has played just three seasons as a Cardinal after transferring from Akron.

"It shows how talented they are and what each has brought to the program," Doup said of Stepp and Lowe. "Their leadership and commitment to being the best they can be has been on full display these last few years. We aren't going to press and instead just focus on the main task, because both guys want to win first and foremost. This is a team game and they will tell you the same thing. If those records happen, they happen."

Sophomore safety Fred Hardgrove leads the conference in both tackles (92) and interceptions (6), and could become the third Otterbein player since 2004 to finish atop the OAC in total stops. Senior linebacker Austin Jones, 87, could also flirt with triple digits. He had 103 as a true freshman back in 2013.

The Cardinal defense will need all hands on deck to handle Marietta running back Roger Walker, who has captured three-straight OAC 'Offensive Player of the Week' awards and now ranks ninth nationally in rushing touchdowns (16) and 11th in rushing yards (1,278). He needs four more scores to match the Marietta all-time record and is 193 yards shy of 5,000 all-purpose for his college career.

"We have been decent against the run, but Walker is so talented and his offensive line opens it up," Doup said. "He is a brute and you typically see the first guy bounce right off. Marietta is feeding off what he can do and the 1-2 punch he forms with the quarterback. We will have to execute the game plan."

The Pioneers (6-3, 5-3) have caught fire with four-straight victories to secure the program's first winning season since 2006. Marietta caught everyone's attention with a 44-21 triumph over Heidelberg, and followed that up with a 35-28 come-from-behind win over Ohio Northern.

Junior quarterback Darrien Fields operate the Pioneer offense, having thrown for 1,662 yards with 20 TD's and then rushing for another 310 and two scores. He also serves as the primary punter.

Ryan Vanmeter paces the wideouts with 39 catches while Andrew Barker has five receiving touchdowns. Defensively, linebacker Garrett Davis has a team-best 78 tackles and Javi Zaragoza has picked off three passes.

Otterbein has beaten Marietta five-straight times under Doup, including last year's 49-21 victory in the season finale at Memorial Stadium. The Cards tallied a 31-21 decision during their last trip to Marietta in 2015, a game that was delayed by weather and culminated with a 43-yard interception return for a TD by Drew Ervin.

Regardless of any past history, Otterbein remains focused on accomplishing the task at hand this week and finishing the season on a high note.

"I hope my seniors feel a sense of accomplishment when they walk off the field Saturday," Doup added. "We have been through some big games, certain things not going our way and various times of adversity. I know they won't be completely satisfied because our expectations were much higher this year, and that's the type of confidence they have. But when they take the pads off, I hope they are glad with their choice to attend Otterbein and enjoyed the time playing for us."

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