Box Score

Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team used a late second-half push to get within one score of the nation's 12th-ranked team, but in the end the Little Giants of Wabash were able to escape town with a 37-23 win over the Yeomen on Saturday afternoon at Savage Stadium.

Trailing 30-3 early in the third quarter it appeared that the Yeomen were dead in the water, but their “never say die” attitude shined through as three straight touchdowns made it a 30-23 game with 7:02 remaining in the fourth.

Senior Drew Mixter scored all three of the Yeomen's touchdowns on receptions from Josh Mandel. The first came with 5:25 left in the third quarter and from four yards out. It capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:38 off the clock.

Following a Wabash punt, the Yeomen marched 80 yards again, this time using 18 plays and 8:09. Mandel found Mixter from 11-yards out on 4th-and-goal as Mixter went up into the air to make an aggressive catch right in front of a Little Giants' defender.

On the ensuing Little Giants drive, the defense came up big as senior Jake Hochendoner recorded the defensive trifecta – sacking Wabash quarterback Chase Belton, forcing a fumble and recovering the lose ball at the Little Giants 41-yardline.

Oberlin took advantage of the big play on yet another Mandel to Mixter scoring strike – this one coming from 13 yards out. The Yeomen also got creative on their two-point try, snapping it directly to Mixter in the backfield who rolled out to his left and threw a jump pass to Cory Kidd in the back of the endzone.

Trailing by just seven with the 7:02 left to play, and with the Oberlin defense keeping Wabash in check throughout the second half, Head Coach Jeff Ramsey elected to kick it deep instead of trying for an on-side kick.

Unfortunately, that move didn't work out as planned, as the Little Giants were able to go 70 yards on 12 plays to score the game's final touchdown. More importantly they took 4:54 off the clock, which left the Yeomen with just 2:02 to try and score two times.

The Yeomen dug themselves an early hole by turning the ball over on the very first play of the game, which resulted in Wabash posting a quick seven points. Later in the first quarter, Mandel threw an interception on his own 5-yardline that Luke Zinsmater snagged and carried into the endzone.

The first-half scoring came to an end with Wabash leading 16-3. The extra two points came off a safety that the Yeomen long snapper sent past Kidd on a punt try and through the back of the endzone.

Following the intermission, it didn't get any better for Oberlin as Wes Chamblee took the opening kickoff back 80-yards for a score. Later in the third a 28-yard touchdown pass from Belton to John Holm made it 30-3.

Still despite the miscues, the Yeomen scored the most points of any foe against Wabash so far this season, with the previous high being seven. After having just 44 yards of offense at the half, Oberlin finished the game with 235 total yards, while Wabash checked in with 231. OC also won the time of possession battle by a large margin, 34:26 to 25:34.

Mandel finished 18-of-39 for 188 yards to go along with those three TD passes to Mixter. He was also intercepted once.  His top target on the day was senior Dan Weintraub who had career-highs in catches (5) and yards (69).

Defensively, Clay Eaton was an absolute force as he finished with nine tackles, three sacks and five tackles for a loss. The five TFL's ties Chris Pisani for fourth all-time. Pisani accomplished the feat back in 2005 against Macalester. The three sacks are also fifth all-time – tying Steve Barlow, who did it in 2001 against Denison. Eaton is also second all-time on the single game sacks list as he recorded four last year against Case Western.

Oberlin concludes its home season next weekend against Washington University (St. Louis). Prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff, Oberlin will honor its senior class.

Oberlin Athletics apologizes with the technical difficulties of the live video feed. We will work diligently on getting it solved before next week.