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COLUMBUS – The Capital University football team fell victim to a pair of big plays in the fourth quarter Saturday in a 23-9 loss against cross-town rival Otterbein in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest at Bernlohr Stadium.

The Crusaders (1-7 overall, 1-6 OAC) outgained the Cardinals 210-199 in total yards and registered seven quarterback sacks, but Otterbein took advantage of a pair of interception returns for touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull away from Capital late in the fourth quarter.

After a 51-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Ryan McSweeney (Seven Hills, Ohio) to junior wide receiver Alex Coleman (Columbus, Ohio) cut the Cardinals' lead to 10-9, the two teams traded possessions until the Crusaders took the ball at their own 24-yard line with 3:52 to play.

On the first play of the possession, McSweeney dropped back and threw a screen pass to the right that was picked off and returned for a score. Capital blocked the extra point, but Otterbein (6-2, 5-2) still held a 16-9 advantage with 3:43 to play.

On the ensuing possession, the Crusaders took advantage of a pair of Cardinal personal fouls and drove to the Otterbein 29-yard line. From there, McSweeney threw deep over the middle and was intercepted just in front of the goal line and returned for a 92-yard touchdown with just over two minutes on the clock.

In a physical game true to the style of any Capital-Otterbein affair, the two teams combined for 20 penalties, 13 punts and seven turnovers as defense ruled the day.

"I told the guys they played well today for our seniors," Capital coach Henry Stanford said. "This was their last game in this stadium, and they put forth a great effort. That's all you can ask for as a coach."

Sophomore linebacker Matt Tash (Painesville, Ohio) led the defense with 11 tackles, while senior defensive lineman Jay Bondzeleske (Columbus, Ohio) posted five tackles, including a game-high three sacks and 3.5 for a loss. Senior defensive linemen Nate Nasrallah (Norton, Ohio) and Seth Nelson (Columbus, Ohio) totaled two sacks apiece. In total, the defense recorded 17 tackles for loss on the day.

Of the Crusaders' 16 seniors recognized prior to the contest, nine were defensive linemen and two others – linebacker Tyler Dugan (Columbus, Ohio) and defensive back Ryan Neuberger (Milan, Ohio) – were defensive starters.

"Our guys wanted to play for each other, and our guys wanted to send all our defensive linemen and Tyler and Ryan out the right way," Stanford said. "They put pressure on Otterbein's quarterback."

Freshman running back Bo Hardy (Galloway, Ohio) led the rushing attack with 43 yards on 13 carries, while freshman Taylor Wellbaum (Piqua, Ohio) led the receiving corps with seven receptions for 49 yards. Coleman added four receptions for 90 yards and 129 all-purpose yards.

Making his first career start, McSweeney finished 12-of-36 for 155 yards passing.

Sophomore kicker Travis Bosanac (Strongsville, Ohio) posted his seventh field goal of the season and second of more than 45 yards with a 47-yard strike with just under five minutes left in the second quarter. The play was set up four plays earlier by a fake punt on fourth-and-9, when sophomore Gene Rucker (Marion, Ohio) took a direct snap and rumbled 14 yards to the Cardinals' 23-yard line.

Capital wraps up the season with back-to-back road games, beginning next Saturday at Muskingum. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in New Concord, Ohio.

"We've got two more games left, and now we turn to road warriors," Stanford said. "We have to get out to a great start next week and finish the season strong."