WESTERVILLE — The Otterbein football team scored in all three facets of the game - offense, defense and special teams - as it closed its 2024 season with a 47-15 loss to Ohio Northern in Ohio Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics

• Records: Otterbein (1-9 overall, 1-8 OAC), Ohio Northern (5-5 overall, 4-5 OAC)
• Venue: Memorial Stadium - Westerville, Ohio

Otterbein Stat Leaders

• Redshirt senior quarterback Hayden Lehmann completed 17 of 36 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown.
• Sophomore Cayden Lassiter led Otterbein in rushing with 46 yards on 15 carries.
• Junior Owen Menge tallied four receptions for 59 yards, and freshman Cass Cole had three catches for 50 yards.
• Redshirt senior Armani Burton's lone catch of the game was a 31-yard touchdown reception.
• Senior Justin Bartlett paced the Otterbein defense with 12 total tackles, including one sack.
• Junior Thomas Cherry tallied 11 tackles, including one sack.
• Sophomore Jaden Irvin posted nine tackles, including two for loss. Redshirt senior Randy Cochran Jr. also had nine tackles.

Game Summary

• After a scoreless first quarter, Ohio Northern opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run with 14:15 left in the second period.
• After forcing an ONU punt, Cardinals freshman Emmanuel Watson recovered a muffed snap by the punter and returned it 10 yards for an Otterbein touchdown, tying the score at 7-7 with 10:28 left in the second quarter.
• Later in the period, an outstanding punt from Otterbein senior Carson Blank went out of bounds at the ONU 1-yard line. On the second play of the ensuing Polar Bear drive, Cherry and junior Carson Vaulx combined to tackle ONU running back Jordan Pettaway in the end zone for a safety, putting the Cardinals up 9-7 with 1:53 left before halftime.
• The Polar Bears took a 10-9 lead into the halftime break after making a 33-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining.
• ONU scored on runs of 1, 4 and 59 yards in the third quarter to take a 32-9 lead into the fourth.
• The Polar Bears added a 3-yard touchdown run and a 6-yard touchdown pass for a 47-9 edge before the Cardinals capped the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Lehmann to Burton with 1:35 remaining. Otterbein's ensuing 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Video Highlight

• Armani Burton's touchdown reception

Notables

• Ohio Northern is now 15-2 against Otterbein since 2006 and has won the last 12 meetings.
• Bartlett's career totals include 247 tackles, 43 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. He ranks third all-time at Otterbein in tackles for loss and closes the year three sacks shy of moving into fifth all-time in that category.