PHOTO GALLERY
WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein football team competed admirably in its final game of the season on Saturday afternoon, ultimately falling 37-22 against nationally-ranked John Carroll at a chilly Memorial Stadium.
The Cardinals recognized
Carlos Alamo,
Tayon Howard,
Eason Hardouin,
Adyn Snyder,
Jay Bradley,
Patrick Beck,
Nate Clark,
Bobby Buckler,
Thomas Bobovnyk,
Clayton Adams and
Owen Bebie prior to kickoff as part of Senior Day.
John Carroll, falling to No. 18 in the country after last week's lost to OAC champion Mount Union, finishes its regular season 8-2 overall and will hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA Playoffs.
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JCU built a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter but Otterbein closes the half strong.
Cayden Lassiter hit
Owen Menge for 35 yards to get near the red zone. After a roughing the passer penalty and four runs from
Matt Griffin, the Cards were on the board entering the break.
Otterbein carried that momentum into the third quarter, embarking on a 77-yard drive across 12 plays that resulted in another TD scamper from the newcomer Griffin. A 34-yard strike from Lassiter to
Armani Burton was critical in the sequence.
The Blue Streaks answered from there, notching a pair of scores around a field goal from Yanni Volas to open a 37-14 lead down the stretch.
Otterbein never stopped battling and scored again before the final horn, going 75 yards in 10 plays entering the final minute. Lassiter hit
Adyn Snyder on a 10-yard strike, and then Burton for the two-point conversion in a gritty effort to cap a season of adversity.
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Griffin and fellow freshman
John Lard combined for 96 rushing yards while Menge had 77 through the air. Lassiter was 15 of 28 for 194 yards.
Defensively, safeties
Randy Cochran Jr. and
Tayon Howard teamed for 26 tackles to lead all players. Linebacker
Bobby Buckler made six to finish with a team-best 92 on the year, and fiery defensive lineman
Tinell Edwards recorded three for a loss.
Edge rusher
Justin Bartlett ends his junior campaign with 19.5 tackles for loss, marking he third most in a single Otterbein season.
Otterbein converted 9 of 17 third downs and registered 324 yards of total offense.
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