BEXLEY, Ohio – The Otterbein football team emerged victorious in its annual rivalry showdown with cross-town Capital Saturday afternoon, getting a standout day from freshman running back
Jordan Bost-Floyd en route to a 33-18 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory.
The Cardinals, winning their fourth-straight game at Capital, claim victory for the second time in as many weeks following last week's rain-soaked win over Muskingum. Otterbein also jumps ahead in the all-time series between the two schools, which now stands at 46-45-3.
Albeit chilly, it was sunnier and much better weather for this annual rivalry showdown in front of the 2,488 fans at Bernlohr Stadium. Otterbein improves to 2-6 on the year as a whole and 2-5 in OAC play, while the Crusaders remain winless at 0-8 this season.
As usual, the contest featured a slew of dramatic sequences that all factored into the final outcome. Capital fell short on a 4th-and-1 opportunity to begin the game, and Otterbein cruised right down the field to go up 6-0 behind the first of Bost-Floyd's three rushing scores. The extra point was missed.
Capital then found itself up 10-6 after seemingly holding the ball forever. The Purple and White kicked an initial field goal, followed by recovering a semi-sneaky onside kick, which was followed by a short TD run midway through the second quarter.
Otterbein recaptured momentum with a critical drive just before intermission, going 80 yards in just 72 seconds of game time to beat the halftime horn. The sequence featured a long pass to
George Redding, a 4th-and-10 pass to
Dom Ross, and then capped when
Logan Pharmer threaded the needle to Ross once again for a 10-yard strike.
The Cardinals continued gaining chunks of yardage with the speedy Bost-Floyd throughout the second half, as the youngster crossed the goal line on runs of 10 and 5 yards to extend Otterbein's lead to 26-10. Capital didn't go anywhere quietly, scoring early in the fourth and then tacking on a two-point conversion to make it a 26-18 game.
Things got wacky late in the contest as Otterbein was driving deep to put the game away, taking six minutes off the clock and ultimately facing a 4th and Goal, from the three-yard line, with 2:53 on the clock. Having already missed two extra points, the Cardinals elected to instead go for it and ran an option to the wide side of the field…
Pharmer pitched sideways to running back
Matt Webb, who couldn't control the toss, as the ball went to the ground and was picked up by a Capital player. That Crusader went sprinting the other way to erupt the home sideline and fans, but the play was blown dead and ruled an incomplete pass.
Otterbein brought immediate pressure as Capital took over on downs, and ultimately secured an interception after a pass breakup from
Niall Lewison landed in the hands of fellow safety
Zach Smith. Webb found both pay dirt and redemption moments later on a game-clinching rushing touchdown to the left side.
Bost-Floyd stole the show with 17 carries for 146 yards while Pharmer completed 23 of 35 attempts passing. Slot receiver
George Redding had eight of those receptions for 92.
Senior
Ryan Tuchow paced the opposite side from his middle linebacker spot with 10 tackles. Reigning OAC Defensive Player of the Week
Greg Nolder and corner Gary Moaney both had eight stops while Lewison added seven. Defensive end Auston Torr came up with five stops, a half sack and timely interception at the goal line on a tipped passed in the second quarter.
Capital's David Barnett had seven catches for 159 yards, becoming the school's all-time leader in receiving yards in the process. He now has 2,723 for his career.
Otterbein outgained Capital 415-268 and had a 25-11 edge in first downs. The Cardinals will play their final road game of the season next week at Marietta, with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
