TIFFIN, Ohio – A valiant defensive effort by the Cardinals wouldn't be enough Saturday night in a cold, wet and rainy OAC road game, as host Heidelberg methodically created separation behind multiple defensive scores of its own to secure a 28-8 outcome.

The Cardinals, back in action following their mid-season bye week, limited the Student Princes to just 245 yards of total offense but just couldn't generate enough when they had the ball.

Heidelberg, with losses to nationally-ranked John Carroll and Mount Union this fall, jumps to 4-2 overall this season on its Homecoming Weekend. HU also retains the Rhine River Cup, distributed annually after the schools plays the first-ever college football game on German soil back in 1992.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• Neither side could generate much in a tight first quarter until the last minute, when a semi-high snap went through the hands of QB Lorenzen Horace and into the end zone. Heidelberg was able to charge and recover for a touchdown, with Horace unfortunately injured during the sequence.
   
• Otterbein's defense got the team on the board early in the second quarter, following a booming punt from Carson Blank that helped pin the 'Berg inside its five-yard line. Earlonte Cousins quickly blew up a run plan to chart a safety.
   
• The Cards received the ball back from that play behind new signal caller Beau Burtscher, but Heidelberg veteran DB Joseph Norris intercepted a slant pass and delivered a shifty interception return (for a TD) that covered both sides of the field.
   
• That 14-2 score remained the same until midway through the third quarter, when the Student Princes came up with another pick six by way of Keyshawn Cunningham.
   
• Otterbein went back down the field and saw 1st-and-Goal (from the 3) in the closing minute of the quarter, but another pass was picked off in the back corner.
   
• Heidelberg's offense tallied its lone touchdown with 4:09 remaining in the last quarter.
   
• The Cardinals played to the final whistle by engineering a 12-play, 65-yard drive that saw the opportunity for one play before the horn. Freshman QB Cayden Lassiter scrambled to the left sideline and slipped inside the pylon for a TD.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Tough conditions impacted a game that featured six turnovers and just 158 passing yards between the two sides.
   
• Both teams combined to go 7 of 34 on third down and attempt 18 punts.
   
• Tayon Howard and Randy Cochran Jr. led all players with nine tackles each. Howard also grabbed his team-leading fourth INT.
   
• Veteran RB Montavious Yearby  ran 26 times for 120 yards on the home side.
   
• The game saw 29 penalties across both squads.

 
BACK HOME:

The Cardinals will finally get back in Memorial Stadium after what will end up as a six-week stretch between home games, hosting Baldwin Wallace as part of Hall of Fame weekend. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.