They finally did it. Otterbein football has won a game. In what is certainly the most important date on the football calendar, the Cardinals defeated crosstown rivals Capital 39-10 on Saturday Oct. 26.
A perfect fall day for football saw a crowd that expected a victory against the Comets turn up at Memorial Stadium. Both teams entered the game with 0-6 records, though Capital was looking worse off in games against the same opponents as Otterbein.
The Cardinals got off to a hot start, after Capital running back Kassim Johnson fumbled the ball and Otterbein scored on the ensuing possession.
The theme of the day for Capital would be turnovers, and more specifically bad quarterback play. The Comets' quarterback room combined for five interceptions, one of which was picked off by Tinell Edwards in the first quarter, setting up another Otterbein touchdown.
Despite a Capital touchdown to make it 12-7 in the second quarter, Otterbein took the lead into halftime for the first time this season, after Landen Pettet returned an interception to the endzone.
The Cardinals continued to force turnovers in the second half, leading the wheels to fall off for Capital by the end of the game. Three more interceptions would be tossed by the Comets on a day in which Otterbein’s defense truly ruled the game.
Offensively for the Cardinals, quarterback Hayden Lehmann would have perhaps his best performance in Cardinal red, throwing for 175 and three touchdowns. In fact, with 39 total points on the day, Otterbein smashed their season best total points in a single game, which previously stood at 21 points against Wilmington.
In total, Otterbein’s defense forced six turnovers, including a fumble recovery.
The game finished at a score of 39-19 in favor of the Cardinals, seeing Otterbein regain the Oar and win their first football game since October of 2022.
The Cardinals will return to action against Heidelberg at home on November 2. This sees the renewal of the Rhine River Battle, where the two teams will compete for the Rhine River Cup. Otterbein last beat Heidelberg in 2016.
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