Oberlin Gives a Yeomen's Effort Against No. 7 Wittenberg
OBERLIN, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team gave the
No. 7 ranked Wittenberg University Tigers all they could handle,
but in the end the visitors were able to escape town with 27-21 win
over the Yeomen on Homecoming Saturday at Savage Stadium.
The Yeomen (2-2, 1-2 NCAC) led twice and had a chance to win it in
the fourth quarter, but the Tigers were able to survive to run
their run to a perfect 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the NCAC.
Making his first start of the season, senior Joey Zebelian
displayed great poise throughout the game as he completed 22-of-36
passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns. However, he was picked
off twice and was sacked five times.
Tight end Danny Enright was his top pass catcher, snagging six
balls for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Drew Mixter was the
Yeomen's top ground gainer with 40 yards on 11 carries.
On their first possession of the game, the Yeomen had a chance for
a big play, but a double reserve pass from Cory Kidd went through
the hands of a wide-open receiver. However, it was still the Yeomen
who got on the board first as Zebelian orchestrated a 14-play,
80-yard drive that resulted in a 12-yard scoring strike to Enright
with 1:47 left in the opening period.
Unfortunately, the momentum was short-lived cause on the ensuing
drive Tigers' QB Ben Zoeller connected with Josh McKee on a
3rd-and-13 play that went for a 91-yard touchdown.
Once again it didn't take long for the Yeomen to respond,
taking advantage of a roughing the punter call that gave them an
automatic first down on the Tigers' 24-yardline. On the next
play following the penalty, Oberlin went for paydirt as Zebelian
found Adam Niec on a skinny post in the middle of the end zone for
the Yeomen TD to make it 14-7.
The Tigers bounced back with a 7-play, 70-yard drive to tie the
game and would add a field goal in the final minute of the half to
lead 17-14 at the break.
Wittenberg controlled the third quarter clock and the scoreboard by
adding 10 points during the 10:24 it possessed the ball.
Trailing by 13, the Yeomen wouldn't go down without a fight
as they would march 62 yards on 12 plays in 6:34 with the end
result being a 10-yard full-extension TD-catch by Enright in the
corner of the end zone to get OC within six, 27-21.
Following the score exactly four minutes remained in the game and
the Yeomen elected to kick it deep to see if their defense could
get a stop with one timeout at their disposal. Following one first
down by the Tigers, Oberlin forced the Tigers to punt it away with
1:06 to go in the contest. Oberlin took control at its own
44-yardline following an eight-yard return by David Kalgren.
On the first play of the possession Ryan Harvey caught a 10-yard
pass for a first down to move the ball in to Tigers'
territory. Following two incomplete passes, Zebelian found Kidd for
an 11-yard gain on 3-and-10, but following the play Oberlin got
flagged for a personal foul call that moved ball back to midfield.
Following the penalty, a hook-and-ladder play resulted in another
first down, but on the next play Zebelian fumbled after being hit,
which effectively ended the game.
Kalgren led the defensive with eight tackles, while Adam Wigren had
two sacks for a total of nine yards. Kidd punted 5 times and placed
three inside the 20, with his long covering 55 yards.
