R.V. Carroll (So.), the nation's 12th-leading rusher, compiled 212 yards and two touchdowns today against the Earlham Quakers

October 14, 2006 -- Today's North Coast Athletic Conference contest at Earlham College (Ind.) was indeed a huge stepping stone for Head Coach Jeff Ramsey and the Oberlin football team. The Yeomen rolled up a whopping 514 yards of offense to defeat the Quakers, 41-31, and improve to 4-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in NCAC play. With the win, Oberlin boasts its best start in 43 seasons - the Yeomen began the 1963 season at 4-2 and finished 6-2. The last time Oberlin was 3-0 in the NCAC was in 2003, when Ramsey's squad placed second in the conference with a 4-2 mark.

With a 34-24 lead, Oberlin had possession of the ball and had a first and ten with 3:43 remaining in the final period. As time ticked away and the Yeomen looked to run out the clock, sophomore running sensation R.V. Carroll put an exclamation point on his team's win by sprinting 80 yards for a victory-sealing touchdown.

Despite scoring 24 points in the first half, today's game began a bit slowly for Oberlin, as Earlham's Max Crmly-Efngr booted a 32-yard field goal with 10:18 left in the first quarter to give the hosts an early 3-0 lead. Soon after, though, sophomore quarterback Greg Mangan led a ferocious rally by the Yeomen in which they scored 21 unanswered points. In the first quarter, Mangan connected with junior wide receiver and Oberlin High School product Chris Schubert twice, once for a 14-yard score and later for a 26-yard touchdown.

After junior free safety Chase Palmer returned an interception for 34 yards to Earlham's 21-yard line, Mangan capped a six-play drive by rushing yards for a score. The scamper by the Yeomen's quarterback gave the visitors a 21-3 lead with 13:04 remaining in the second quarter. Earlham fought back quickly, though, scoring once on the ground and once by air to make the score 21-17 in favor of Oberlin with 2:08 left in the half. Oberlin responded with a 30-yard field goal by Mike Tomlinson to take a 24-17 lead into the intermission. Tomlinson's kick was set up by a 66-yard rush by Carroll.

Earlham managed to fight back from what was once an 18-point disadvantage to tie the game at 24-24 thanks to a 23-yard pass from Justin Rummell to Jeremy Hosier with 8:37 left in the third quarter. The Quakers lead was short-lived, though, as Carroll scored on a 13-yard run with 1:59 left in the third to give the Yeomen the lead for good. Tomlinson added an insurance 25-yard field goal in the fourth to give his team a 34-24 lead, which set the stage for Carroll's 80-yard score. Earlham scored a touchdown with 53 seconds left, after the game was already out of reach.

The Quakers entered this afternoon's game with the second-best passing attack in the NCAC. Rummell, who had averaged over 300 yards per game in the air this season, was completely held in check by the Yeomen, as the quarterback completed 16 of his 35 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Greg Mangan, Rummell's counterpart for the day, had another stellar afternoon in the pocket, finishing the game 18-22 for 258 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Mangan's favorite target for the day was Schubert, who caught a game-high eight passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Cassius Harris also racked up five receptions for 67 yards.

The star of the day for the Yeomen was without a doubt R.V. Carroll. The Perry, Ohio native entered today's game as the 12th-leading rusher in Division III (122.8 yards per game). After tallying 212 yards and two touchdowns against the Quakers, Carroll now averages 139.2 yards per game and has totaled 835 yards and seven scores on the year. He rushed 28 times today, averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

Tomlinson regained the form that made him a pre-season All-American by making both of his field goal attempts and nailing four PAT's. Defensively, Palmer led the Yeomen by racking up an interception for 35 yards, a fumble recovery, and 5.5 tackles (five solos). Senior linebacker and co-captain Andy Estep had a team-high six tackles, while junior Clayton Thurmer added five tackles.

"Today's game was just a great team win," Ramsey said. "We helped ourselves offensively in the second half and put together a great game."

After dropping a heartbreaking 17-19 loss against Wittenberg University this afternoon, Wabash College (Ind.) will head to Oberlin next Saturday hungry to get back on the winning track. The Yeomen have won two out of three at home this year, though, and will welcome the Little Giants to Dill Field for a 1:00 p.m. contest on October 21.

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