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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It was yet another wild football matchup between Otterbein and Capital on Homecoming weekend… but would you expect anything less by now?

This time around, in the 2022 installment, the Cardinals admirably flipped a late touchdown deficit into a 35-28 victory behind two scores in the closing minutes. As a result, Otterbein beats its cross-town rival for a fourth-straight year and (ironically enough) the home team wins for the first time in eight matchups.

HOW IT WENT DOWN:

• Both teams exchanged scoring drives in what became a high-scoring first half. Otterbein had an 11-play drive to open the game that was finished on a throwback pass from Kaden Doup to Christian Pataky…
   
• Capital would score three touchdowns in the first half on lengthy passes of 29, 54 and 24 yards respectively. The Cards tied the game (14-14) temporarily, and a missed field goal to end the half allowed the Comets to hold a 21-14 margin at the break.
   
• Safety Kam Smith made a timely interception on Capital's first drive in the third quarter, leading to Ahjay Cody finishing off a 60-yard drive to knot the score back up. Otterbein regained possession deep in its own territory later in the period, but a muffed handoff let the visitors take over and score a TD on the very next play.
   
• Otterbein trailed for the next 15-plus minutes of game time, but stayed the course and ultimately struck a late rally in the closing minutes. The biggest play of the game occurred on 4th-and-Goal from the 11 with just over three minutes left, as Kaden Doup hit Armani Burton on a back-shoulder fade near the pylon that erupted a slew of alums down on the field level.
   
• Capital mishandled the ensuing kickoff and found itself taking over (tied 28-28) at its own 3-yard line. Three straight incompletions, forced in different ways, used less than 30 seconds off the clock and a short punt gave Otterbein the ball back at the plus 30.
   
• Doup hit Damien Whaley on a huge 3rd-and-7 conversion to move the chains, eventually leading to the game-winning touchdown from Cody (up the gut) after Otterbein bled the clock down under 30 seconds.
   
• A pass breakup from Vincent Fisher, dropped pass over the middle by Capital, and a "last hurrah" razzle dazzle on the final play would follow as time officially expired.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Otterbein finished edges of 428-265 in total offense and 25-14 in first downs, using a mammoth defensive effort after halftime to absolutely stymie the Comets.
   
• The Cards had 34:48 time of possession and were a combined 9 of 16 on third/fourth down.
   
• A veteran offensive line (featuring four seniors and a returning sophomore starter) paved the way for a big rushing day. Siraj Muhammad had 13 for 110, Jordan Bost-Floyd went 20 for 74, and Cody was responsible for the pair of touchdowns.
   
• Doup, who started playing quarterback just two years ago, made his first college start in place of Eason Hardouin. The agile sophomore completed 17 of 30 passes for 201 yards and found eight different receivers.
   
• Whaley had seven catches for 64 yards, both career-highs, while Burton's only catch was the biggest of the day for either side.
   
• Linebacker Justin Bartlett made eight stops to pace a very balanced defense.

 
UP NEXT:

• Otterbein will not play another home game until the end of the month, traveling to Muskingum and Baldwin Wallace sandwiched around a bye week.