MARIETTA, Ohio — Otterbein University scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to defeat Marietta College 31-21 Saturday (Sept. 19) evening in Don Drumm Stadium. The Cardinals even their overall record at 1-1 and are off to a 1-0 start in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Marietta falls to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the OAC.
The Cardinals started strong scoring on their first two possessions of the game. After holding Marietta to three plays and a punt to start the game, Otterbein marched 60 yards on 11 plays capped by a 1-yard dive by Cole Brenner. Brandon Bellman added the point after for a 7-0 lead.
Marietta fumbled the ball away on its next drive and Otterbein capitalized on the mistake. The Cardinals covered 61 yards in six plays with Kevan Green hitting Julian Lowe on a 20-yard scoring strike with 3:20 left in the first quarter. Bellman added the PAT to make it 14-0.
The Pioneers got on the board in the second quarter.
Joe Ortega (Fresno, Texas/Hightower) forced a Cardinal fumble and
Tonio McElveen (Missouri City, Texas/Hightower) recovered it on the Otterbein 32-yard line. Marietta struck quickly.
Lucas Havens (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy Area) hit
Roger Bush (Palm Bay, Fla./Bayside) for 22 yards down to the 10-yard line. On the next play Bush ran the ball in for the score.
Jimmy Embrescia (Northfield/Nordonia) hit the point after to cut the lead in half with 13:45 left in the first half.
Marietta tied the game with 1:51 left in the half on a 12-yard run by
Nick O'Neal (Mont Belvieu, Texas/Barbers Hill). Following a poor Otterbein punt, the Pioneers put the ball in play near midfield. Three O'Neal runs gained 22 yards and moved the ball to the Otterbein 30-yard line. Havens found
Jared Deep (Washington, Pa./Trinity) for 18 more yards setting up O'Neal's TD scamper.
Green went back to work for the Cardinals hitting four of five passes including a 33-yard strike to Julian Lowe. With first and goal from the Marietta 4-yard line, Cole Benner ran the ball to the 1-yard line and then dove in on his second carry. Bellman again delivered the PAT giving OU a 21-14 lead at the half.
Bush tied the game at 21-21 with his second rushing touchdown of the game. Marietta took over on its own 25-yard line. Bush carried the ball five times for 36 yards, including the 4-yard TD, and caught two passes for 15 yards.
With the game tied, Otterbein drove to the Marietta 6-yard line. The Cardinals ran six plays inside the Marietta 10-yard line but had to settle for a 25-yard Bellman field goal.
On Marietta's ensuing possession, Otterbein defensive back Drew Ervin stepped in front of a Havens' pass and returned it 43 yards to pay dirt. Bellman added the point after for a 31-21 lead with 5:08 left in the game.
O'Neal finished the game with 18 carries for 80 yards and one touchdown. Bush gained 75 yards on 14 carries and scored twice. Bush also caught five passes for 64 yards. Havens completed 16-of-26 passes for 186 yards. He was picked off once.
Green completed 12-of-23 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. John Pyles carried the ball 21 times for 79 yards, while Benner picked up two rushing touchdowns. Lowe caught seven aerials for 136 yards and one score.
Middle linebacker
Daryl DeWindt (Lilburn, Ga./Meadowcreek) led the Pioneer defense with 13 tackles. Defensive lineman
Nick Thompson (Lancaster/Lancaster) finished with 11 tackles, while
Dalton Secrest (Beallsville/Beallsville) had nine tackles and 1.5 sacks. Ervin led Otterbein with 11 tackles.
Marietta hosts the University of Mount Union next Saturday (Sept. 26) at 1:30 p.m. Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
