MARIETTA, Ohio – The Otterbein football team lost pace throughout the second half of an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) road game Saturday afternoon, as a two-possession game at halftime turned into a tough 56-7 loss at Marietta inside Don Drumm Stadium.

The first half was a low-scoring, defensive struggle as neither team put much on the scoreboard after Marietta's opening drive. The Pioneers scored in just 93 seconds during their first offensive series and never trailed again.

Otterbein hung close throughout the entire first half but stalled out after getting around/across midfield six different times. The Cards had 2nd and 8 on the plus-41 before ultimately punting into the end zone, and Marietta took the ball 80 yards on the next series to extend the lead to 14-0.

Otterbein then marched right back down the field, but a 4th-and-8 pass to Siraj Muhammad from Marietta's 21 line settled one yard short of the sticks. The Pioneers held the 14-0 advantage entering intermission.

The second half would be all Marietta, as the home side scored two touchdowns in the opening five minutes and never looked back. Otterbein's lone scoring play came midway through the third period on a 36-yard connection from Bryce Hall to Robert Jordan.

Hall completed 14 of 29 passes for 145 yards on the day, throwing that TD but also a pair of interceptions. Marietta finished with a 436-223 edge in total offense.

Bryce Agnew carried 20 times for 131 yards and four touchdowns to pace the hosts. Otterbein safety Charlie Hornacek led all players with nine tackles, including his first-career interception late in the second quarter.

Otterbein will return to campus and host Wilmington next weekend for Senior Day, with kickoff slated for 1:30 p.m.