Box Score

Delaware, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team was plagued by four second-half turnovers which allowed the Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops to come from behind and steal a 30-23 win away from the Yeomen on Saturday afternoon at Shelby Field.

The Yeomen led 16-3 early on in the third quarter and were clinging to a 23-22 lead in the closing moments of the fourth quarter, but sophomore quarterback Mason Espinosa marched his Bishops 53 yards on six plays before ending the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. The drive started with just 2:54 left in the game and he used nearly all of the clock as the Yeomen were left with just 48 seconds to try and answer.

Following a nice return on the ensuing kickoff by Drew Mixter, the Yeomen took over in pretty good shape at their own 43-yardline. After a sack to start the series, Josh Mandel was able to connect with Robin Witjes and Cory Kidd to get his team down to the OWU 30, but following a spike to stop clock, Mandel was intercepted for the third time of the half to effectively end the game.

However, it wasn't all bad for the quarterback from Plantation, Florida, as he finished the day 26-of-34 for 338 yards to go along with three touchdowns and the three interceptions. His top target on the day was Witjes, who snagged nine balls for 109 yards.

Oberlin started the game with a 28-yard field goal courtesy of new place kicker Erickson Andrews, but it was somewhat disappointing considering the drive started on the Bishops' 11-yardline following two sacks and a bad snap on a punt. Later in the first quarter, Madel capped off a 9-play, 71-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring strike to Dan Weintraub to give the Yeomen a 10-0 lead after one period.

Unfortunately, the offense bogged down in the second quarter as their four drives in the stanza resulted in two fumbles and two punts. The last fumble came right before the end of the half and at the OWU 3-yardline. Luckily the Yeomen defense allowed just a field goal before the break, making it a 10-3 game at the intermission.

It appeared Oberlin was back in sync to start the third quarter as Mandel finished off a 7-play, 60-yard drive with a 23-yard TD pass to Weintraub, who ended the game with four catches for 81 yards and two scores.

Following the touchdown, the Yeomen caught at break as the Bishops fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but instead of adding more points Oberlin gave it right back on an interception. OWU then went down the field to tack on a quick six to make it 16-9.

On Oberlin's next possession it was more of the same as Mandel fumbled that ball on his own 26 to put the Bishops in business. Just moments later a 1-yard TD by Kevin Herman would tie the game at 16.  To end the third quarter both teams would trade turnovers on the next two drives.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Oberlin was able to reclaim the lead, 23-16, when Mandel connected with Mixter on a slant play that went 47 yards for the go-ahead score.

Later in the quarter, the Bishops would answer with a Jamal Nash 1-yard TD plunge, but the extra point attempt was missed, which left the Yeomen up 23-22.

The Yeomen took over with 5:16 to go in the game, but eventually were forced to punt with just under three minutes left which gave the Bishops plenty of time to orchestrate the game-winning drive.

Matt Misorski led the defense with nine tackles, while Clay Eaton chipped in with eight stops, including two-and-half sacks and a forced fumble.

Oberlin will conclude its season next week when it travels to Allegheny College for a 1 p.m. kickoff.