MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College's bid to upset visiting Otterbein University for a second straight year on Senior Day was denied by a pair of blocked field goals, as the visiting Cardinals prevailed 21-14 in an Ohio Athletic Conference showdown Saturday (Nov. 6) afternoon at Don Drumm Stadium. [Box Score]

Pioneers senior wide receiver #Cory Kriechbaum (Marietta/Marietta)# set a new single-season school record with his performance of 12 catches for 81 yards against the Cardinals. Kriechbaum, who has now caught 64 passes this season, also moved into a tie for second place on Marietta's career reception list with 148 catches. He is just three shy of tying Antonio Hutton for the school's all-time record. Kriechbaum is also 118 yards behind Jason Curry for the school's record for career receiving yards. Curry finished his Pioneer career with 760 yards in 2006.

Marietta (2-7, 1-7 OAC) out gained Otterbein (5-4, 4-4 OAC) 355-247 in total offense. The Pioneers, who had the ball for 36:02, collected 128 yards on the ground and 227 yards through the air. They were also aided by 112 yards of Cardinal penalties. Otterbein, who had only 12 first downs, finished with 119 yards rushing and 128 yards passing.

Junior #Andrew Keller (Cincinnati/Glen Este)# led Marietta with 15 carries for 70 yards. He also completed 27-of-40 passes for 227 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Freshman #Kyle Booth (Lewisburg/Tri-County North)# added 17 rushes for 41 yards and a score. Junior #Jahmaal Jones (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale)# also caught nine passes for 86 yards in the game.

After forcing Marietta to a three-and-out on its first possession, Otterbein pieced together an eight-play, 62-yard drive. The drive was capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Colton Coy, who finished the game with 22 carries for 111 yards. The extra point gave the Cardinals a 7-0 advantage with 9:23 to play in the quarter.

The Pioneers tied the score at 7-7 two possessions later when a seven-play, 53-yard drive led to an 11-yard touchdown pass from Keller to Kriechbaum with 3:25 left on the first quarter clock. Kriechbaum's reception was his 55th, which set a new single-season school record. Junior #Kyle Cardwell (Uniontown/Green)# added the extra point.

Otterbein regained the seven-point lead in the final minute of the first quarter when Austin Schlosser connected with Trey Fairchild for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Schlosser finished the day 8-of-16 and threw for 128 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Fairchild had a team-best three receptions for 64 yards and one score.

Marietta threatened to draw closer on the final play of the first half but a 29-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Anthony Korpieski to preserve Otterbein's 14-7 lead as the teams headed into intermission.

The Pioneers tied the game at 14-14 with a nine-play, 56-yard drive on their second possession of the third quarter. Booth, seeing his first extended action of the season, punched it in from one-yard out for the score and Cardwell added the extra point.

Marietta had a chance to takes it first lead of the afternoon after a 10-play, 60-yard drive late in the fourth quarter. Korpieski, however, blocked another field goal attempt, this time from 37 yards, with 45 seconds on the game clock. Matt Ross picked up the loose ball and returned it 35 yards to give Otterbein a first and 10 on Marietta's 45-yard line.

The Cardinals, who until their final drive were held to just two first downs in the second half, quickly had back-to-back first down plays, before Schlosser scored on a 13-yard rush with 18 seconds left in the contest. The extra point gave Otterbein a 21-14 lead. Marietta moved the ball to its own 40-yard line but time ran out and Otterbein escaped with the victory to take a 42-41 lead in the all-time series.

Defensively, junior #Dan Starr (Senecaville/Buckeye Trail)# led Marietta with a game-high 10 total hits. Senior #Adam Tate (Chesterhill/Federal Hocking)# had eight stops, including one and one-half sacks, while senior #Pete Santagate (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township)# added seven hits.  Wil Longsdorf paced Otterbein's defense with nine tackles, while Eric Heller pitched in with eight stops and Dominic Jones had seven hits, including two sacks.

Marietta closes out the season Saturday (Nov. 13) afternoon when the Pioneers visit Columbus, Ohio, for a match-up with Capital University at 1:30 p.m.