Yeomen Earn Their First Shutout Since 1982
Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team simply dominated in every aspect of the game as they manhandled the visiting Lords of Kenyon College by the score of 42-0 on Saturday afternoon at Savage Stadium. It was the Yeomen's first shutout-win since 1982 when they defeated St. Francis University 26-0.
Red-shirt junior quarterback Josh Mandel was sensational as he completed a career-high 26 of his 36 attempts for 322 yards and four scores. He spread the wealth around as seven different Yeomen caught at least one pass on the day with junior Robin Witjes leading the way with eight catches and 83 yards to go along with one touchdown.
Sophomore Moses Richardson also had a career day as he combined for 103 total (69 rushing) yards and two touchdowns.
Not to be forgotten is the effort put forth by the Yeomen defense as they held the Lords to just 107 yards of total offense and forced 11 punts on the afternoon. Senior Jake Hochendoner led the unit with nine tackles to go along with one sack and two tackles for a loss. All-in-all the Yeomen racked up 10 tackles for a loss on the day.
The Yeomen wasted no time in jumping on the Lords early as they cashed in three touchdowns on their first three possessions. With their backs against the wall of their own end zone on their first possession, the Yeomen marched 91 yards on 11-plays in 5:44 with the end result being a five-yard scoring strike from Mandel to Adam Niec on a quick slant.
On the following drive, the Yeomen were left with much better field position, as they needed to go just 55 yards to find the painted pasture of the end zone. Things started with a 24-yard swing pass out to Drew Mixter and ended with a 16-yard connection from Mandel to Danny Enright on 3rd-and-10. On the play Mandel was forced out of the pocket and moved to his right to find Enright between to Kenyon defenders. The 6-foot-7 Enright did the rest to muscle his way in for the score.
Already leading 14-0 at the end of one, the Yeomen were looking for more and got it from a new face as rookie Justin Williams capped off as 12-play, 80-yard drive with a seven-yard run up in which he carried two Lords' defenders on his back and on into the end zone.
The Yeomen, who led 21-0 at the break, got back on the scoring train after going 3-and-out on their first two possessions of the third. On 3rd-and-3 Mandel threw a swing pass out to the nearside to Richardson – he made one man miss and then he was off to races up the sideline for a 34-yard score.
Oberlin added two more scores in the fourth, with the first being on a 23-yard hook-up from Mandel to Witjes on a beautifully designed seam route down the middle of the field. The final score of the game came on a Richardson sweep of the right side that featured a huge pancake block by Jim Adkins that sealed edge and allowed Richardson to get in with ease.
David Kalgren, who tied for the NCAC lead with four interceptions in 2010, added a late INT and returned it 41 yards up the Yeomen sideline.
Oberlin will be idle next week, but will return to action on September 17 to host the College of Wooster at 1 p.m.
