Last week was the first time I've ever called anyone out in the 36 weeks I've been writing for the T&C.; I was very hesitant to "call out" the defense the way I did. But, journalism is all about sorting out facts and presenting them in such a way that entertains and yet informs. I expected some sort of backlash.
Walking out of Memorial Stadium Saturday, I was greeted by defensive end Alex Kriss. After a hand shake and a congratulatory hug, Mr. Kriss grinned and boasted, "How 'bout that defense now?" Trying to replace All-OAC defensive end Tyler Evans is about as easy as replacing Bob Barker on The Price is Right (I love Drew Carey, but wow he's bad). Lucky for the Cards, the transition has been much easier than CBS's switch from the savvy Barker to the bumbling Carey. The entire front seven for Otterbein had the game of their lives. Eric Burnsides and Wil Longsdorf were extremely fun to watch. Capital quarterback Wade Bartholomew will not soon forget running for his life from No.11, Burnsides, and No. 43, Longsdorf. Watching good linebackers is like poetry in motion. Filling gaps and taking proper pursuit angles allowed four turnovers on downs for the Cardinal defense. Jim Collins at Capital is a very good coach. He realized that the Cardinal defense had struggled all season long. He had such little respect for the Otterbein D that he went for it on fourth down six times. Only two of those were during desperate and obvious four-down situations. Those were the two they converted. The other four were during the first half, and all four were stuffed by the stingy Cardinal defense. Cue Aretha Franklin. R-E-S-P-E-C-T Coach C. Find out what it means to the OC "D." Matt Spitz is one of the greatest kickers to ever soccer-style swipe a pigskin in Division III. He has almost every Capital kicking record to his name. Last year he was an All-American and broke the school record for kick-scoring against the Cards in Bexley. Spitz lined up for a chip-shot 20-yard field goal just before the half. Scott DeLong leaped and blocked the kick: the play of the game. Or was it? In the ensuing play, the Cardinals fumbled and again the defense had to try to hold the Crusaders out of the end zone. Instead of kicking it on fourth down from the Otterbein 8-yard line, Collins went for it. And again the Cardinals threw it back in the Crusaders' face. The Cardinal defense got it done. If the Cardinals win out, and Ohio Northern falls at Baldwin Wallace this week, Otterbein is in the playoffs! No time to rest on your laurels, defense. Go to it again this Saturday in New Concord.
