Despite Offseason Growth, Oberlin Drops Home Opener

Obies will have to wait a few weeks if they want to see the Crimson Thunder win at home.

The visiting Garnet Tide of Swarthmore handed Oberlin a 28-6 loss at Dill Field last Saturday in the Yeomenıs season opener. The game was a rematch of last seasonıs opener where the Tide trounced OC 42-6 at Swarthmore to break the nationıs longest losing streak.

Casual observers of the Oberlin football scene will no doubt look at the score and remark that the team must be getting better. After all, we scored. Cynicism aside, and the game gave a more avid follower much to be thankful for, as well as much they might wish to forget.

In a game marred by turnovers and penalties on both sides of the ball, the hard work in recruiting and training put in by head coach Jeff Ramsey and his staff still shone through. The team has nearly doubled in size, and the added depth is a boon to a program traditionally worn down by the third quarter. The offense now boasts both an effective running and passing game, as compared to teams under former head coach Pete Petersonıs reign, who all too often relied on All-NCAC wideout Felix Brooks-Church and ill-fated runs up the middle.

Eighteen players return from last yearıs squad and are joined by over thirty newcomers, including transfer students.

³Having the transfer students, who are all good students and have [college] football experience, really helps,² said Ramsey. With the returnees helping teach the newcomers the system at the summer mini-camp, the fifty-plus players who took the field in the preseason might as well have been playing together for several years. Quarterbacks coach Robert Oldham noted that the new offensive line had clicked with sophomore quarterback Chris Moffatt, calling them ³very responsive² to working with him.

The biggest change noted by players, coaches and fans alike was the new depth on both the offensive and defensive lines. As recently as last year, Oberlin was forced to play some linemen on both offense and defense, which left an already small team vulnerable to more injuries. ³Itıs significantly better,² said Oldham. ³Weıve added depth, added size, added speed...²

Much was expected of the revamped Yeomen prior to Saturdayıs contest. But Director of Athletics Michael Muska downplayed the event. ³You canıt put too much on just one game,² he said. ³This is still a rebuilding year. Youıve got to remember, this is the team that beat us 42-6 last year. Weıre just trying to close the gap.²

³But a win would be fabulous,² he added.

The crowd of several hundred, some mildly perturbed by Newsweekıs coverage of the matchup, agreed that a win would be big.

³I want redemption!² said sophomore Jonah Landman.

The game started with nothing short of a bang. Sophomore place-kicker Martin Mitchell drove the opening kickoff to the oppositionıs five yard line, and Swarthmoreıs Rich Andres fumbled as he tried to return the ball. First-year George Parr fell on the ball two yards from the end-zone and was rewarded with thunderous cheering from the Oberlin fans.

Moments later, Moffatt took the ball on a sneak and dove into the endzone for the score. Again, the stands erupted into cheers.

They would have less and less to applaud as the game continued. Oberlinıs offense sputtered with Moffatt and first year quarterback Troy DeWitt combining for three interceptions. Neither threw touchdowns, and they only completed 12 of 32 passes. By games end only half as many people remained, but those who stayed cheered each Oberlin success just as strongly.

The defense, despite looking far better than those understaffed lines that have graced Dill field in years past, broke down in the second half, allowing three more Swarthmore touchdowns. Part of the difficulties could be traced to offensive turnovers which both halted Oberlin drives and cut down on the Yeomen defenseıs rest time. Two of the Garnet Tideıs second half touchdowns came on drives following a Swarthmore interception and the third followed a blocked punt.

Prior to the second half deluge, the defense had more than proved their mettle, stopping six of eight Swarthmore drives in five downs or less.

Since Saturday, the team has been focused on avoiding a repeat performance at Pomona-Pitzer this weekend.

The focus has been simple: ³Ball security. We worked on the passing game and [quarterback] mechanics,² said Ramsey. According to Ramsey, two of the three interceptions were the result of bad throwing mechanics.

Ramsey is banking on the practice paying off. ³Most improvement in a season happens between the first and second games,² he said.

³To be honest, we can beat these guys [Pomona]. Theyıre a good football team, but weıre a good football team too.²

The key, according to Ramsey, is size. Oberlinıs revamped offensive line has an average of 25 pounds each on their Pomona defensive counterparts. Oberlin will try to exploit this perceived mismatch with increased emphasis on the running game. Pomonaıs line, while smaller, wonıt be easily deterred. The Sagehens held their opponents to a slim 2.3 yards per carry last season and out-sacked their opponents by more than a three-to-one margin.

Oberlin faces Pomona at 1 p.m. PST Saturday. The Yeomen next play at home against Earlham on September 16, at 1:30 p.m.