PHOTO GALLERY
ZAGORSKI PRESS CONFERENCE

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – There was a lot to unpack and digest Saturday afternoon at a hot/muggy Memorial Stadium, where visiting Ohio Wesleyan spoiled the football opener for Otterbein in what rested as a 35-21 final score.

A wild back-and-forth affair (marking the debut of head coach Tommy Zagorski) saw just seven points in the first half before a combined 49 post-intermission. OWU evens the recent non-conference series after the nearby schools resurrected the home-and-home in 2017.

BASIC BREAKDOWN:

• Otterbein's defense performed admirably despite being put in some challenging spots. The unit forced four turnovers - interceptions from three different players (Carlos Alamo, Tyreek Gunnell and Tayon Howard) and a forced fumble via Zach Hymer in the red zone.
   
• The Bishop point total benefited greatly via some big/broken plays. They scored three touchdowns of 60-plus yards, along with a three-yard drive after a blocked punt and interception return at the very end.
   
• Ohio Wesleyan was 10 of 18 on third down while the Cards finished just 5 of 17 in the category.
   
• Time of possession was nearly identical, separated by just four seconds.

KEY MOMENTS:

• Otterbein marched right down the field during its opening drive but came up empty on a 4th and 2. The Bishops went right back the other way, converting multiple third downs but ultimately missing a field goal.
   
• OWU scored the only points of the half after a blocked punt late in the first quarter, taking over inside the 5-yard line and punching it home.
   
• Both QB's threw two picks in the first half, but to no avail as neither offense took full advantage. The game entered halftime at 7-0.
   
• The Bishops were threatening in the third quarter but Howard intercepted a pass at his own 10 and hustled 51 yards the other way. Eason Hardouin later found Jordan Bost-Floyd for a nine-yard toss where JBF snuck inside the pylon.
   
• Ohio Wesleyan hit a 62-yard TD pass moments later, and appeared ready to make it a two-possession game before Hymer stripped quarterback Kaden Buza and Earlonte Cousins recovered.
   
• The Cards went three-and-out and Adyn Snyder launched a 60-yard punt, but OWU responded with a 73-yard burst on the very next play.
   
• Otterbein found some offensive tempo from there, with Hardouin completing five-straight passes before a short TD run by Ahjay Cody. The Cards then had a chance to get off the field, but OWU hit another long touchdown pass to extend the lead to 28-14.
   
• Otterbein faced a 4th and 1 with under five minutes on the clock, and stayed alive thanks to Cody busting a 46-yard score.
   
• The Cards, trailing by seven, got the ball back twice but were unable to get into scoring territory. A pick-six by Ohio Wesleyan in the closing minute (after an unusual fair-catch sequence left the Cardinals at the 1-yard line) capped all scoring and made the final margin a bit wider.

NOTABLE STATS:

• Buza completed just 11 of 30 passes for OWU, but nearly all of them were on third down to move the chains.
   
• Linebacker Bryce Walker, returning after missing all of last year, led Otterbein's defense with a game-high 13 tackles. Justin Bartlett added nine.
   
• Slot receiver Owen Menge finished with six catches for 77 yards, including a few difficult catches while absorbing contact.
   
• Devon Haley was a workhorse for the Bishops, toting the rock 24 times on the day.
   
• Bost-Floyd had 93 total yards on 17 touches from the backfield.

 
MOVING FORWARD:

• Otterbein will now turn its attention to conference play next week, as Muskingum comes to town for the OAC opener. Kickoff is set for noon once again.