By Ashley Birchmeier
ADA — Senior Justin Magazine tied a school record with six rushing touchdowns and senior Devon Price became ONU's all-time career receiving yardage leader as Ohio Northern defeated Otterbein 42-10 on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
The Polar Bears conclude their regular season 8-2 overall and 7-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Cardinals finishes their season 4-6, 4-5.
With the victory, the Polar Bears finish tied for 2nd of 10 teams in the OAC and claim its 19th upper division OAC finish in the last 20 years.
Magazine led the Polar Bears with 204 yards rushing on 25 carries and six touchdowns, tying the record six rushing touchdowns by ONU Hall of Famer, All-American and NFL alumnus Jamal Robertson, set against Marietta in 2000.
Price finished the contest with 113 receiving yards on eight receptions, becoming the ONU career leader in receiving yards with 3,051, passing former ONU All-American Steve Vagedes, who had 3,036 receiving yards from 1995-99.
The Northern defense was led by senior Justin Tello with 12 tackles and junior Scott Rapps with five tackles and 4.0 sacks.
Magazine was the key for Northern in the first half as the senior rushed four four touchdowns and 152 yards as the Polar Bears built a 28-0 lead at intermission.
Magazine finished the day with TD runs of 5, 7, 3, 12, 1 and 35 yards. His 204 yards rushing was a career high and is the second time in the last three games he finished with 200 or more yards on the ground.
He scampered in from five yards out with 12:48 left in the first quarter to give ONU the early 7-0 advantage, capping a 5-play, 73-yard drive on Northern's opening possession.
In the second quarter, the Polar Bear offense went to work once more as Magazine rushed for 7 yards to find the end zone for the second time and extend the Northern lead to 14-0. This score capped a 10-play, 99-yard drive.
After forcing Otterbein to punt, Northern traveled 47 yards for a score. magazine plowed in from three yards out and put ONU on top 21-0 with 4:42 left in the half.
With just 1:35 left till halftime, the Polar Bears would find the end zone once more as Magazine swept in from 12 yards out to give ONU the 28-0 halftime lead.
Otterbein would get on the board in the second half with a 29-yard field goal by Abass Ceesay with 11:06 left in the third to pull the Cardinals within 28-3.
The next possession Northern would respond as freshman quarterback Ricardo Johnson would lead the offense down the field where Magazine would punch in his fifth touchdown of the game on a 12-yard run extending the lead to 35-3.
Magazine would tie Robertson's six touchdowns with 14:16 remaining in the fourth quarter as ONU traveled 54 yards on four plays to push the lead to 42-3. He covered the final 35 yards himself on a run up the middle for the score.
Price would become the ONU all-time receiving yards leader in the fourth quarter as Johnson would connect with the senior for a 16-yard first down conversion with just 13:01 remaining in the contest.
Price leads the OAC in receiving yards this season with 78 catches for 1,076 yards and Magazine leads the OAC with 1,321 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground.
Trailing 42-3, Otterbein would score the contest final touchdown as the Cardinals converted on fourth down to pull within 42-10.
Ohio Northern out-gained Otterbein 462-212 in total offense.
The Polar Bears must now wait until Sunday at 6 pm to find out if they will receive a bid to play in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.