Box Score

Springfield, Ohio – Big plays and missed opportunities plagued the Oberlin College football team as it fell to No. 16 Wittenberg 41-19 on Saturday afternoon at Ed Maurer Field.
 
Sophomore Moses Richardson was a bright spot for the Yeomen as he racked up 92 yards on 14 carries. After missing last week, quarterback Josh Mandel returned under center and was 16-of-27 for 141 yards. He threw two touchdowns, but was also intercepted twice. Tight end Danny Enright led OC with 42 yards on five catches.
 
After both teams punted on their first two possessions, the Yeomen gift-wrapped the first score of the game for the Tigers as a bad snap from center resulted in Wittenberg recovering the fumble at the Yeomen 21-yard line. On the first play after the miscue Connor Warye swept the right side to give the Tigers a 7-0 cushion.
 
The Yeomen tried to answer the initial score as they marched 12 plays and took 5:56 off of the clock, but had nothing to show for it as Joe Cook missed a 24-yard field goal.
 
On the ensuing Tigers possession the Yeomen were dealt a huge dagger as multiple Wittenberg penalties left them with a 4-and-goal-to-go from the Oberlin 30-yard line. However, the Tigers prayers were answered as somehow Josh McKee got behind the Yeomen defense and quarterback Ben Zoeller found him in the back of the endzone for a backbreaking 30-yard score.
 
However, the Yeomen continued to fight as a 45-yard return on the kickoff by David Kalgren put them in business at the Tigers' 30. Mandel then orchestrated an 8-play, drive that ended with him hooking up with Robin Witjes from four yards out on a 4^th-and-2 play.
 
With the first half clock continuing to move, Oberlin had a chance to get some points before the half expired, but Mandel was picked off with 1:28 left in the stanza.
 
After leading 14-7 at the break, the Tigers quickly marched down the field to score on their first possession of the third to grab a 21-7 lead.
 
OC responded with a methodical 17-play, 67-yard drive that took 8:59 off of the clock. The drive, which featured six first downs, was capped off with a 1-yard toss from Mandel to Adam Niec. Unfortunately, Cook missed the PAT, which kept the margin at eight, 21-13.
 
Wittenberg would add a field goal on its next drive and then get the ball right back as Kalgren fumbled the ensuing kickoff which eventually led to another Tigers' TD and a 31-13 lead.
 
With 13 minutes left in the game, Oberlin would mount another scoring drive that ended with a 1-yard TD plunge by Mandel. Unfortunately, Wittenberg would not let up as it added 10 more points in the quarter to put the game away for good.
 
Rookie Bill Sommers had the best game of his young career as he led the Yeomen defense with 12 tackles. Senior Jake Hochendoner added six tackles to go along with two sacks for a total of 14 yards.
 
Oberlin will look to put this one behind them next week when it makes the short trip to Case Western Reserve University for a 6 p.m. battle.