R.V. Carroll (So.) rushed for 213 yards in a 28-14 win over Hiram on September 30

September 30, 2006 -- The Oberlin football team shutout Hiram College in the second half and out-gained the Terriers on the ground 259-87 to earn a 28-14 North Coast Athletic Conference road victory this afternoon. Sophomore running back R.V. Carroll had a career day for the Yeomen, carrying the ball 33 times for 213 yards and three touchdowns to help Head Coach Jeff Ramsey's team improve to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Hiram fell to 0-4 on the year with the loss.

Hiram was the first to strike today thanks to a 30-yard touchdown run by quarterback Trevor Henderson with 6:26 left in the first quarter. Three minutes later, Oberlin faced a fourth and one from Hiram's 41-yard line. Ramsey elected to go for the first, rather than punt, and Carroll did not let his coach down. Not only did Carroll earn the first down, but he sprinted 41 yards for a score to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:18 remaining in the opening period.

Late in the second quarter, the Yeomen put together a 11-play, 67-yard drive to go ahead 14-7. Oberlin faced another fourth down situation from Hiram's 30-yard line, but sophomore quarterback Greg Mangan connected with junior wide receiver Andy Stein for a 29-yard gain. The scoring drive was capped by a one-yard run by Carroll with 4:57 left in the half. Oberlin appeared as if it would coast into halftime with a 14-7 lead; however, a pass by Mangan was intercepted and returned to near the Oberlin goal line with just seconds left in the first half, setting up a score by Hiram that tied the game at 14-14 heading into the intermission.

It was Oberlin's defense that would break the game open in the second half. Sophomore linebacker Zach Warner picked up his third interception of the season and returned a pass by Henderson for 25 yards and a score to put his team up for good, 21-14.

The Yeomen put the icing on the cake in the fourth quarter by amassing an eight-play, 92-yard scoring drive. After a 27-yard pass from Mangan to junior wide receiver Cassius Harris put the ball inside Hiram's red zone, Carroll scored his third touchdown of the game on a quick-hitter to the right side to give Oberlin a 28-14 advantage.

Carroll's rushing yard total was the third-best single-game performance in Oberlin history. Travis Oman rushed for 216 yards against Denison in 2001 and Mike Koslow gained 259 yards against Kenyon in 1963. Carroll now has 564 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and five touchdowns this season, making him currently one of the leading running backs in the nation in just his second season with the Yeomen.

Mangan went 10-22 with one interception on the day, including the pivotal 29-yard strike to Stein in the second quarter. Hiram was led in the game by Henderson's 71 rushing yards. Hiram's quarterback completed 21-30 passes for 168 yards and one interception.

Defensively, Oberlin was paced by Warner, who added four tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss to his touchdown, and junior defensive lineman Chris Pisani, who had four tackles (two for a loss) and also forced a fumble. Junior defensive back Clayton Thurmer also had 4.5 tackles (1.5 for a loss) and half of a sack this afternoon.

Next week will be an important game for the Yeomen (2-2), who will host NCAC rival Denison University (0-4) on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. contest at Dill Field.

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