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Otterbein University Athletics

Otterbein Cardinals

Corley
Finnegan Smith
35
Manchester MAN 1-3 , 0-0
36
Winner Otterbein OTT 2-3 , 1-2
Manchester MAN
1-3 , 0-0
35
Final
36
Otterbein OTT
2-3 , 1-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MAN Manchester 7 21 7 0 35
OTT Otterbein 0 7 14 15 36

Game Recap: Football |

Cardinals rally from 28 down to stun Manchester

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – In a comeback for the ages, the Otterbein University football team erased a 28-point deficit to stun Manchester University, 36-35. Trailing 28-7 at the half, the Cardinals used a monstrous second half – including a dynamic final two minutes – to prevail over the Spartans.

Sophomore quarterback Duke Corley was efficient and effective, completing 7 of 11 passing attempts for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Corley added 37 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns with his legs in the comeback as well. Matt Griffin had a stellar day with 200 all-purpose yards, 143 on the ground and a touchdown, as Drew Vilk led the receivers with four catches for 87 yards. 

Freshman Donovan Delph delivered when Otterbein needed it most, hauling in two interceptions and blocking a crucial field goal. The blocked kick prevented Manchester from going up 10 with 1:48 on the clock, and his second pick came on the Spartans' final possession to seal the victory.

Manchester broke out of the gates by returning the opening kickoff 97 yards to the house. The visitors would go on to score four consecutive touchdowns, aided by Cardinal miscues, to hold a 28-0 lead late in the first half. 

The Cardinals got on the board with 2:47 to play in the opening half, thanks to Griffin. The senior broke through two tackles before racing to the left sideline for a 71-yard touchdown. As Manchester tried to answer on the ensuing possession, Delph picked off a Donovan Williams pass at the Otterbein 10-yard line, sparking momentum into the hosts just before halftime. 

Receiving the ball to start the second half, the Cardinals used a five play, 66-yard drive to cut the deficit to 14. Highlighted by a 55-yard catch and run to Vilk across the middle, Corley found Landon Myers three plays later for a 5-yard touchdown pass – the first of Myers' career. 

After the Spartans responded with a touchdown drive of their own, the Cardinals fired right back with another 66-yard drive. Ishhod Diomande's 30-yard gain put the hosts inside the Manchester 7, and Corley found the end zone two plays later with a 4-yard rush. Heading into the fourth, the Cardinals trailed 35-21 as the momentum began shifting in Otterbein's favor. 

Manchester missed a 28-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter, and Otterbein capitalized with a score on the ensuing possession. On a second and six, Corley connected with Griffin over the middle for a 57-yard gain to get deep into Spartan territory. Corley scored on the next play, rushing to the right side for an 8-yard touchdown and trimming the deficit to seven points. 

As the minutes ticked away, the Spartans marched down the field and ate clock, forcing the Cardinals to use their timeouts with Manchester in the red zone. With 1:48 remaining, the Spartans attempted a 28-yard field goal. Delph beat his man on the outside and dove to block the kick, downed at the Spartan 30 and sparked life into the Memorial Stadium crowd. 

With the ball at their own 30 and no timeouts, Corley led Otterbein to a game-winning drive, connecting with Daniel Shaffer for a 51-yard touchdown pass. Corley found Shaffer over the middle at the Manchester 15 and in a footrace to the pylon the freshman stumbled into the end zone to close the gap to one point. In no doubt, the Cardinals elected to go for two, where Corley found fifth year Christian Pataky in the back of the end zone to vault Otterbein ahead, 36-35. 

On Manchester's final drive, Delph picked off Frankie Cherry for his second interception of the day, allowing Otterbein to line up in victory formation and ring the Victory Bell following the win. 

"This game had the epitome of highs and lows," said head coach Dave Marquis. "It was just a tremendous team and program win for us to be able to fight back the way we did .. I'm just so proud of these guys and their resiliency and the way they competed today."

"We're a young team but we have a lot of perseverance," added Delph. "We came out in the second half and executed … Every player 1 to 11 did their job."

The Cardinals racked up 438 yards of total offense and were a perfect 3 for 3 in red zone chances. In his Cardinal debut, Wyatt Yesnick was 4 for 4 in PATs. Defensively, Carter Sleet and Trent Owens led the way with seven tackles apiece. Junior Jonathan Bauzon added six total tackles, including 1.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry.

Otterbein will enjoy the upcoming bye week before returning to action on Oct. 17 at Ohio Northern. Kickoff against the Polar Bears is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.


 
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