Marietta 25, Otterbein 22

Marietta, Ohio — MARIETTA, OHIO—Marietta scored with 57 seconds to play to upset seventh-ranked Otterbein, 25-22, Saturday afternoon in Don Drumm Stadium.
The Cardinals, who played the final three quarters without sophomore quarterback Austin Schlosser, fell to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Otterbein dropped into sole possession of second place in the OAC, one game behind top-ranked Mount Union, who defeated John Carroll, 56-7, today in University Heights. The Pioneers improved to 3-5 overall and 2-5 in the OAC.
Otterbein looked to be on its way to an eighth-straight victory, scoring on its opening possession, a six-play drive covering 60 yards and ending in a 6-yard touchdown throw from Schlosser to senior wide receiver Ryan Rowley with 13:08 to play in the first quarter.

Marietta countered by scoring on its first two possessions on runs of one and four yards from sophomore quarterback Andrew Keller and senior running back Lamar Hunter, respectively, to lead, 14-7, with 9:22 to play in the first half.

The Cardinals closed to within one, 14-13, on a 4-yard touchdown run from junior running back Colton Coy with 4:42 to play in the second quarter. Otterbein missed the one-point conversion.

Marietta led 14-13 at the intermission.

Following a scoreless third quarter, things went crazy in the fourth quarter where there were four lead changes.

Otterbein junior place-kicker David Brewer hit a 25-yard field goal to give the Cardinals a 16-14 lead with 14:13 to play in the game.

The Cardinals held onto the lead for the next 11 minutes until Marietta freshman place-kicker Zane Eschbaugh nailed a 47-yard field goal, the first attempt of his career, to put the Pioneers back in front, 17-16, with 3:16 to go in the game.

Otterbein roared right back, covering 43 yards in two plays—a 9-yard run by senior running back Eric Yates and a 34-yard TD run by sophomore quarterback Kyle Stoughton—to regain the lead, 22-17 with 2:25 to go.


The Cardinal defense could not hold, however, as the Pioneers mounted a seven-play, 69-yard drive, which ended in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Keller to sophomore wide receiver Chad Walker. After a Hunter two-point conversion, Marietta led, 25-22, with 59 seconds to play in the game.

Otterbein’s last possession ended in an interception.

Marietta generated 456 yards of total offense in its win.

OAC rushing leader Colton Coy went over the 100-yard rushing mark for the sixth time this season, netting 101 yards and one TD on 17 carries. Yates added 79 yards on 13 carries, and Stoughton finished with 55 yards and one touchdown on six carries.

Schlosser completed six of nine pass attempts for 41 yards and one touchdown before suffering his injury at the end of the first quarter.
Senior strong safety David Ebright led Otterbein with eight tackles along with a forced fumble.

Otterbein travels to Mount Union next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Alliance.

Press release submitted by Otterbein on Oct 31, 2009 at 05:55 PM Eastern