The Oberlin football team’s early season woes continued after the Yeomen lost to Heidelberg College by 11 points on the road on Saturday, Sept. 8.  Oberlin could not overcome the five turnovers committed in the game.

Heidelberg scored a touchdown on its first possession.  68 seconds later Oberlin fumbled, leading to another Heidelberg touchdown.

Finding themselves down by 14 less than nine minutes into the game, Oberlin had to respond.  Senior Chris Schubert jumped into action and returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards.  Three plays later, Schubert caught a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Greg Mangan.

Heidelberg clamped down on defense after Oberlin’s touchdown, forcing three straight Yeomen punts. Heidelberg’s offense also stepped up in the second quarter, scoring ten points and making the score 7-24 at halftime.

Oberlin was moving the ball down the field in its second possession of the second half until an interception ended the drive.  The Yeomen defense stepped up and forced Heidelberg to punt after the pick.

The Yeomen defense was forced back onto the field just 21 seconds later when Mangan threw his second pick of the game, leading to another Heidelberg touchdown.  On the ensuing kickoff, Schubert again had a huge return, this time for 42 yards.

On the next play Mangan threw a 46-yard bomb to Schubert for a Yeomen touchdown, bringing the score to 13-30.

Any attempt of a Yeomen comeback was derailed when the next two Oberlin possessions ended with interceptions, one leading to a Heidelberg touchdown.

Oberlin scored touchdowns on its final two possessions of the game with touchdown passes from Mangan to Schubert and to senior wide receiver James Brady.  The two touchdowns made the final score 26-37 Heidelberg. Heidelberg broke its 36-game consecutive losing streak that dates back to October 2003.

In the end, the four interceptions and lost fumble did Oberlin in.  The Yeomen offensive line also had a tough game as Oberlin only rushed for 84 yards on the day and Mangan was sacked six times.

Aside from his four interceptions, Mangan was effective through the air as he passed for 367 yards and four touchdowns.  The 367 passing yards broke the previous Oberlin record of 366 passing yards, also held by Mangan.

Schubert had 344 yards of combined offense, including 135 receiving yards and 202 return yards to go with his three touchdowns.

The Yeomen defense saw six players record at least five total tackles.  Junior Kris DeVant led the defense with 12.5 tackles, three for a loss, and the lone Yeomen sack.

Oberlin now has a bye week before playing at Washington and Jefferson College, which is ranked 16th nationally in D-III.  The Yeomen know they have a lot to work on in the bye week, most glaringly, in their turnovers.

“We’ve had as many turnovers in the first two games as we had all last season, so that is an area in which we are really trying to figure out,” said Schubert.  “We’re looking at the season now as an eight-game season.  Having an early bye week allows us to re-focus.”

Although Washington and Jefferson has a solid team, Schubert admits that the two weeks of preparation will leave the Yeomen in good standing for the game.

“We know they are a very good team, but so are we, we just need to play like it now,” continued Schubert about Washington and Jefferson College.  “Luckily, for them, we have two weeks to get ready…We’ll be ready to play.”