The Oberlin Review
<< Front page Sports October 13, 2007

Football Starts Out Strong, Holds on to Win over Denison 34-27

If the Oberlin College football team has given you the feeling of d&eacute;j&agrave; vu, do not worry, it is understandable.  For the second time in as many weeks, the Yeomen won not only a conference game, but also an individual award. Senior Chase Palmer was again named the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

After starting 0-3 in three tough non-conference games, the Yeomen defense has stepped up in both conference games, allowing half as many points per game as during the non-conference schedule.

You might ask, “What is the key to the recent Yeomen success?” The answer can be summed up in one word: Intensity.

“Our intensity is very important right now,” said Palmer.  “Practice is intense – film intense – and we constantly have intensity on our minds.”

The Yeomen defense had nine players with at least six tackles against Denison this past Saturday. Seven players combined for eight sacks on the day, led by a pair from junior Kris DeVant.

The Yeomen offense also came out firing as it scored touchdowns on three straight possessions following first-year kicker Zach Richard’s opening field goal.

Junior RV Carroll scored the first Yeomen touchdown when he broke free for a 30-yard run. After forcing a punt, the Yeomen got back in the end zone on a 59-yard bomb from junior quarterback Greg Mangan to senior wide receiver Cassius Harris.

Trailing 17-0, Denison struck back and found the end zone with a nine-play drive.  Oberlin, though, seeing the Big Red get back in the game, responded in the best way possible:with a touchdown.

Carroll broke away for another huge run, this time for 42 yards, and was brought down at the one-yard line. On the very next play, Carroll finished what he started by pounding his way into the end zone, giving the Yeomen a 24-7 lead after one quarter.

In the second quarter, both teams’ defenses clamped down with the exception of one Yeomen drive when Mangan again connected with Harris for a touchdown, this time a 22-yard strike.

The second half, however, saw a whole new game. Denison’s defense became stalwart, holding the Yeomen to just three more points the rest of the game.

Midway through the third quarter, Denison got back into the game with a pair of touchdowns. Oberlin blocked both extra point attempts and held a 12-point lead going into the fourth.

Denison scored another touchdown with just under four minutes to play in the game and converted the two-point try following the score, bringing itself within seven.

Oberlin got one first down on the next possession and needed just one more to be able to run out the clock and hold on for the win. Unfortunately, the Yeomen committed three penalties for 20 yards and were forced to punt, bringing the game to a nail-biting finish.

Palmer came up huge for the Yeomen as he intercepted a pass to seal the Yeomen victory 34-27.

The win brings the Yeomen to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in NCAC play. Oberlin is home this weekend against Earlham College. The game is Saturday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m., and fan support could be a huge factor for the Yeomen.

“This weeks crowd is extremely important!” said Palmer. “We have had fantastic support this far into the season, but we are now fighting for a conference championship. It is extremely helpful to have conference champion support in the stands.”


 
 
   

Powered by