Thunder don't roll over, but still get pounded

Team has second best offensive game in 6 years against Denison

For only the second time in six years, the Oberlin Thunder scored over 20 points in a single game, though that doesn't mean they won a game. Oberlin lost to the Denison Big Red 53-21 Oct. 19, after holding the Big Red off for longer than Oberlin has kept any single team from scoring all season.

The Big Red were behind 7-0 after Oberlin scored in the first quarter with a pass from quarterback James Parker to wide receiver Jabari Spruill. Sophomore Eli Miles scored for the Thunder with a 90-yard kick-off return in the third quarter. A 30-yard pass from Parker to receiver Felix Brooks-Church in the third quarter completed Oberlin's highest scoring game this season.

Though the Thunder did not score as many points against Ohio Wesleyan, the Oct. 12 game against the Battling Bishops was one of the best offensive games of the season, according to coach Pete Peterson.

Oberlin lost to the Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops 34-13 at Dill Field. The Bishops scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, putting Oberlin behind 13-0 at the second quarter. The Thunder held off the Bishops, entering half time with the score 13-0.

With Parker, Brooks-Church, wide receiver Anthony Johnson, and running back John Laird leading the offense Oberlin played a strong first half.

"We played well in the first half, but had to battle through the second half of the game," Peterson said. After the half, Oberlin let up and the Bishops scored another three touchdowns. Oberlin showed its stuff in the fourth quarter though, scoring twice.

Parker threw 54 yards to Anthony Johnson for a touchdown with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. He also threw a 30 yard pass to Brooks-Church with three seconds left in the game for the final touchdown. The Thunder ended the game with a field goal by multi-sport athlete junior Sam Krasnow, his first successful kick for Oberlin football.

Oberlin lost to Case Western Reserve last Saturday, 44-7. The game against Case was closer than the score showed, according to senior linebacker Terry Halter. The score at the half was the same as against Denison, 7-20, putting Oberlin within striking distance, according to quarterback Parker. "We just have to work on the mental aspects of our game, and keep [focused] throughout the game," Parker said.

Oberlin scored against the Spartans in the second quarter of the game, with a 19-yard pass from Parker to Johnson. The defense has been improving all season, Halter said, and it showed in the game against Case as [the Spartans] were forced to punt five times. Despite the defense, the Spartans scored a total of seven touchdowns throughout the game.

Oberlin Thunder are preparing to play away against Wooster this Saturday. The Fighting Scots of Wooster are currently ranked second in the conference. The next, and also the last, Oberlin home football game of the season is Nov. 9 against Earlham College.