R.V. Carroll (So.) broke five different rushing records in today's 56-42 rout of Kenyon College

November 4, 2006 -- Led by the greatest individual single-game rushing performance in Oberlin football history and the second-best offensive team effort of the season in terms of total yards, the Yeomen (5-4, 4-2 NCAC) routed host Kenyon College (4-5, 3-3 NCAC), 56-42, to claim a decisive North Coast Athletic Conference victory. Sophomore running back R.V. Carroll collected 336 yards and five touchdowns on the ground to break five different rushing records. No Yeoman had ever tallied 300 yards rushing in a game, and Carroll also broke the Oberlin records for single-season rushing yardage (1,262 yards) and rushing touchdowns in a game and season (12).

Today's win couldn't have come at a better time for the Yeomen, who coming into the game were tied with Kenyon at 35-35-6 in the all-time series. Additionally, both Oberlin and Kenyon entered this afternoon's contest in Gambier, Ohio, with 4-4 overall records and 3-2 marks in the NCAC. The 14-point win against the Lords guarantees the Yeomen at least a .500 overall record and a winning mark in conference competition.

Fans of both teams, and admirers of offense in particular, got their money's worth in today's contest at McBride Field, as the two teams combined for 1,044 yards and 98 points. Some of Oberlin's best all-time performances have come against the Lords, and today certainly was no exception. The Yeomen tallied 590 total yards for the day, which is the second-best single-game yardage total in school history. Oberlin tallied 597 yards earlier this season in the home opener against Heidelberg College. The Yeomen also broke the school record for total offense in a season (3,416), topping the previous mark of 3,395 yards (2001). Additionally, Ramsey's squad now has 35 touchdowns on the year, which equals the team record set in 1950.

Both teams came out shooting in the first quarter, as Oberlin out-scored Kenyon, 20-14. Kenyon scored first on a 61-yard run by Alby Combs to take an early 7-0 lead. Oberlin responded with a six play, 55-yard drive that was capped by a 44-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Greg Mangan to junior wide receiver Cassius Harris. After a blitz by junior Clayton Thurmer allowed classmate Chase Palmer to pick up an interception, Mangan connected with junior Chris Schubert on a 17-yard post route to give the visitor's a 14-7 lead with 7:57 left in the first quarter. Coombs bounced right back just two minutes later by rushing from one yard out to knot the score at 14-14. Carroll scored his first touchdown of the game soon after by sprinting for a 40-yard score, putting Oberlin ahead 20-14 with 56 second left in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, Oberlin's and Kenyon's offenses settled down a bit and the defenses adjusted, but by no means were the two teams done putting points on the board. Kenyon quarterback Rafael Sanchez connected with tight end Harry von Kann with 7:54 remaining in the first half to give the Lords a 21-20 advantage. Carroll and Oberlin responded six minutes later as the sophomore broke away for a 52-yard touchdown run to give his team a 27-21 lead. Just 52 seconds later, Sanchez connected again with von Kann to put the Lords back up 28-27 with one minute left in the half. With time winding down in the second period, Mangan found Carroll open in the middle of the field for a 23-yard gain, but the Yeomen's running back was stopped just short of the end zone on the one-yard line, leaving the score 27-28 at the intermission.

Oberlin has owned the third quarter all season, nearly doubling the point totals of its opponents. This trend held true today in Gambier, as Oberlin out-scored the Lords 14-7 in the period. To begin the third, Mangan again connected with Harris on a 16-yard score to give Oberlin a 34-28 lead. After junior Andy Stein recovered a fumble on the following kick-off at Kenyon's 38-yard line, Carroll rushed for a 30-yard touchdown, increasing the Yeomen's lead to 41-28 with 8:57 remaining in the third period.

On Kenyon's next possession, Oberlin stopped the hosts on a fourth and 12 to get the ball back at the Lords' 47-yard line. A Mangan pass that was intended for Schubert was intercepted in the end zone, though, leaving Kenyon an opportunity to get back into the ball game. The Lords responded by utilizing the Sanchez to von Kann connection for the third time of the contest, this time from five yards out, capping a 76-yard drive with 33 seconds left in the third.

Leading 41-35 to begin the fourth quarter, the Yeomen practically sealed the win by scoring with 10:12 remaining in the game. Carroll notched his fourth touchdown of the game from 13 yards out on a third and goal situation, and Stein ran in for a two-point conversion to give the Yeomen a 49-35 lead which they would not relinquish.

Kenyon's Javier Arbolaez scored on a nine-yard run on the Lords' next possession to make the score 42-49 with 5:13 left in the contest, but Carroll quickly responded just 32 seconds later by surging for a 40-yard touchdown run on Oberlin's first play of its next possession. Carroll, who rushed for nearly 200 yards in the second half, notched his third 200-yard performance of the season to secure the 56-42 win.

"We came into the game wanting to run the ball against the Lords, and we certainly made that happen," Head Coach Jeff Ramsey said. "We ran the ball better than we have all season."

Added Ramsey, "Their offense is physical, and we knew this game would be a barn-burner. We stepped up when we needed to, though, and that is why it is a team game."

After the dust settled, seven Oberlin records were broken this afternoon, and Carroll almost topped the NCAC's record for most yards rushing in a game. His total of 336 yards was just two yards shy of Tony Sutton's (Wooster) mark of 338 yards against Case Reserve in 2003. The previous Oberlin single-game rushing record was held by Mike Koslow, who tallied 259 yards against Kenyon in 1963, while Carroll's five touchdowns broke the record of four, which had been accomplished by six different players in Oberlin's long football history.

Carroll came into today's game needing 74 yards to reach 1,000 on the season, but he easily exceeded that mark, breaking Ron Stevenson's 25-year-old single-season record of 1,220 yards by rushing 38 times for 336 yards (8.8 yards per carry). Additionally, with his five scores on the ground, Carroll set the single-game record for points scored (30), besting Alan Spiegelberg's previous record of 29 points against Hiram in 1961.

Schubert, who still has at least 11 games remaining in his Oberlin football career, broke Oberlin's career record for kick-off return yardage, and he is just a handful of yards away from breaking the career mark for punt return yardage. This afternoon against Kenyon, the Oberlin, Ohio native caught four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown and also returned four kicks for 64 yards.

Mangan and Harris continued to be on the same page today, as the due connected twice for a touchdown. Harris had three receptions for 81 yards, while Carroll contributed to Oberlin's passing attack, tallying four receptions for 34 yards. Mangan's stat line was once again impressive, as he finished the game 13-20 with three touchdowns and an interception. He needs just 115 passing yards next Saturday to break James Parker's season record of 2,169 yards in the air (1997). First-year Wayne Mundekis also provided a spark in the Yeomen's rushing game this afternoon, carrying the ball five times for 48 yards.

Defensively, Palmer had two interceptions to increase his season total to six, while he also had eight tackles. Thurmer and fellow junior R.J. Parker both had a game-high 12 tackles, while the latter added half of a sack as well. Sophomore LaKristopher DeVant also had a strong game for Associate Head Coach Andy Stillman's defensive unit, as he accumulated 11 tackles and teamed up with Parker for a sack.

Kenyon was paced by Coombs, who carried the ball 14 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Sanchez ran 11 times for 61 yards and finished game 18-29 with three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

The Yeomen aim to keep their winning ways alive next Saturday as they close out their 2006 season in an NCAC showdown at Allegheny College (Pa.). The contest against the Gators is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.

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