In the Sept. 6 season opener against Thiel College, Oberlin's football team came up victorious for the first time since 1992, ending a 40-game losing streak.
"It's like a weight has been lifted," said four-year starting quarterback James Parker '98. "We knew what our record was when we started working out this summer. All summer we all were thinking 'Beat Thiel, beat Thiel.' This win has sparked our season." The game was Thiel's 10th straight loss.
The score at halftime was 10-10. The Tomcats scored on a 29-yard run early in the fourth quarter, putting Thiel up by 7. A fumble recovery by Oberlin at the Thiel 42-yard line set up the Yeomen's scoring drive.
Parker's 27-yard completion to Anthony Johnson '99 preceded the scoring play. With just 9:22 left in the game, Parker then threw to James Singleton '01 for a 5-yard scoring pass, then hit Singleton again for a 2-point conversion that gave Oberlin the win.
"This victory just validates all the hard work over the last four years," said football head coach Pete Peterson. He noted that the 28-man Oberlin team was competing without its best player, running back Felix Brooks-Church '99, who was taken out of the game with a hamstring injury in the first quarter.
Another game highlight: Brian Salter '98 gained 122 yards on the ground for Oberlin, the first 100-yard rushing effort by an Oberlin back since 1992.
Before this win, Oberlin's last victory was a 14-8 score against Kenyon College on Nov. 7, 1992.
--Anne C. Paine
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