Oberlin College opened conference play on a warm day at home on the first of October. NCAC rival Kenyon College handed Oberlin football a heartbreaking loss by a score of 21-20. Oberlin missed a field goal as the game ended, and dropped their record to 1-3 and 0-1 in NCAC play.

Oberlin was first to get on the board late in the first quarter on a 46-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Andy Stein to sophomore Cassius Harris. Kenyon responded with a touchdown on the ensuing possession to tie the game up at seven apiece.

The Yeomen responded with a 45-yard Stein touchdown run in just 2:28 left in the game. Stein finished the day with ten rushes for 47 yards and completed 21 of 32 passes for 208 yards.

A field goal by junior Mike Tomlinson gave Oberlin a ten-point lead with 44 seconds left in the first half. Kenyon then looked for a quick strike to cut their deficit going into halftime.

Senior Vance Murphy intercepted a pass to set up another Tomlinson field goal. The field goal sailed through the uprights as the half ended, giving Oberlin a 20-7 halftime lead.

After the teams traded possessions to start the second half, Kenyon drove 80 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-14 Yeomen. Kenyon’s defense limited Oberlin to just 30 yards in Oberlin’s first four possessions in the second half.

“It just seemed like the adjustments Kenyon made at halftime were effective,” said sophomore lineman Geoff “Sweet P” Peterson. “Our coaches put us in a position to make plays and convert third downs, but we just didn’t come through like we know we can.”

Kenyon drove again late in the game and scored a touchdown to gain the lead with just 1:30 left. Oberlin then drove 51 yards to set up for a game winning field goal attempt.

A costly delay of game penalty was called on the Yeomen that pushed back the attempt, making it a 38-yard try. Tomlinson missed just wide left as time expired. Oberlin will look to come back from this heartbreaker at Wabash College this Saturday.