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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein Football team battled much tougher than what the final scoring gap might reflect Saturday against Marietta, but was forced to ultimately rest short in a tough 27-10 loss at Memorial Stadium.

NOTABLE MOMENTS:

• Marietta returned the opening kickoff to midfield and later saw a third-and-long in the red zone. The Cards almost had quarterback Connor Vierstra wrapped up for a big loss, but he escaped to find tight end Derek Witsberger for a touchdown.
   
• The Pioneers later expanded their lead to 14-0, continuing to find success on third down and ultimately scoring on the first play of the second quarter to cap a seven-minute drive.
   
• Ahjay Cody kickstarted Otterbein's ensuing drive with a long return almost to midfield, and the Cards would proceed to take five minutes off the clock themselves. They converted a critical 4th-and-2 when Siraj Muhammad admirably fought ahead in traffic, and Eason Hardouin took advantage a few plays later by chucking a rope to Damien Whaley across the middle (in traffic) on third down.
   
• Consecutive sacks by the defense on Marietta's next possession took the visitors out of field-goal range. Otterbein pushed the ball across midfield shortly before the half but ended up having to punt on 4th-and-3.
   
• Another lengthy kickoff return by Cody put the Cards in nice position to begin the second half. Hardouin scrambled to the right sideline and converted a third down, but it unfortunately came at a price as he was clobbered late out of bounds and missed the remainder of the game. Marietta was flagged for targeting (prompting an ejection) on the play.
   
• Otterbein received an extra 15 yards but couldn't advance much further, as reigning OAC Special Teams Player of the Week Caleb Meade's buried a 38-yard kick.
   
• A timely sack by Nick Cipriano on third down later pushed Marietta into a long field-goal attempt, which was blocked by a few charging Cardinals both up the gut and around the edge. The Cardinal offense, trailing just 14-10 near the end of the third quarter, would get near midfield before stalling out.
   
• The Pios hit a long pass leading into the final quarter, and pushed its lead back to multiple possessions with a short rushing touchdown. Marietta then bled more than 10 minutes off the clock after another stop, almost running out the clock before Bryce Agnew broke free for an insurance TD in the closing minute.

STATS THAT MATTERED:

• Agnew was Marietta's workhorse the entire day, rushing 31 times for 155 yards and two scores. His effort helped the Pioneers hold 36:12 time of possession.
   
• Marietta also finished with a 392-148 edge in total offense, limiting Otterbein to just 54 yards through the air.
   
• Both teams combined to convert 13 of 24 on third down, but Marietta was able to move the chains at key moments on both the opening and closing possessions.
   
• Zach Hymer led all players with 11 tackles while teammates Colton Doup and Max Walden each made nine stops.
   
• All-OAC running back Siraj Muhammad carried 14 times for 72 yards, including a long of 18.

THE AFTERMATH:

• Marietta improves to 2-1 on its young season after already enjoying a bye week. The Pioneers only loss has come at the hands of No. 3-ranked Mount Union. Otterbein, meanwhile, now stands 1-3 overall.

LOOKING AHEAD:

• The Cardinals gear up for next week's crosstown rivalry and homecoming game against Capital. Kickoff at 2 pm at Memorial Stadium