Box Score

ADA, Ohio – The Otterbein football team was dealt its first loss of the season Saturday afternoon on the road, absorbing a 35-7 setback to host Ohio Northern University inside Dial-Roberson Stadium.

Ohio Northern (2-1, 1-1 OAC) hit the scoreboard first, taking the opening kickoff and riding star running back Christiaan Williams all the way down for a 7-0 lead. The Polar Bears faced a 3rd-and-goal from the 17-yard line, but hit a 16-yard pass before Williams punched it in on fourth down.

The Cardinal defense came up with a big play on the next ONU possession as linebacker Austin Jones delivered a big hit on Williams that forced a fumble, which was promptly recovered by Steven Masters. Otterbein took the ball and quickly tied the game, culminating when quarterback Logan Stepp found Hunter Joseph on a 16-yard fade route to the right corner of the end zone.

The Polar Bears appeared to be heading in for a go-ahead TD later in the second quarter, but Fred Hardgrove forced Williams into a fumble on the goal line, where fellow safety Chris Bivins was there to scoop it up.

Otterbein would unfortunately go three-and-out, however, and Ohio Northern later connected on a 21-yard touchdown pass to with under 30 seconds to play before halftime. Junior Andre Douglas blocked the ensuing extra-point, leaving the margin at 13-7 entering the break.

The Polar Bears controlled the entire second half as Otterbein's offense struggled mightily. Douglas helped keep the deficit what it was temporarily by blocking a field goal, but ONU ran its lead to 21-7 midway through the period with an 8-yd TD pass on 3rd-and-goal before making the two-point conversion on a similar play.

Ohio Northern added to its lead from there, with quarterback Will Freed finding his top target, Chad Rex, on a pair of touchdowns that ran the eventual final to 35-7.

ONU finished with a 496-142 edge in total offense as the Cardinals managed just one first down after intermission. Stepp finished 8 of 25 for 71 yards and his second interception of the season.

Freed was an efficient 28 of 33 with four touchdowns on the opposite side, while Williams had 32 carries for 162 yards and a score. Rex, now the OAC leader with seven receiving touchdowns, had eight grabs for 140 yards.

Jones tallied a game-high 16 tackles for the Cardinals while Hardgrove and defensive back Brandon Paschal both had 10.

Otterbein, now 3-1 overall and 2-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, will be back in action next weekend with its annual rivalry game against nearby Capital. The Cards travel across town for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Bernlohr Stadium.