Box Score

Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team was unable to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities as they fell to the College of Wooster 14-3 on Saturday afternoon at Savage Stadium.

The Yeomen out-gained the Scots 286-244, but were plagued by four turnovers that ultimately cost them a chance at winning the game.

Junior Josh Mandel finished 15-of-26 for a 174 yards, but was picked off three times before leaving the contest due to injury. Backup Joe Cook finished a perfect 4-for-4 for 51 yards in relief, but it was too little too late for the Yeomen. Senior Cory Kidd had a spectacular day with six catches for a career-best 108 yards.

After both teams punted on each of their first two possessions, the Yeomen would get on the board with 25 seconds left in the first on a 19-yard field goal by Cook. However, the outcome was somewhat disappointing as Oberlin started the drive on the Scots 27-yard line, but could not punch it in with a 1st-and-goal from the three.

Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived as the Scots would answer on the ensuing possession by covering 56-yards on 13-plays to take a 7-3 lead. The score came on a 4-and-2 play in which Scots' QB Richard Barnes appeared be stuffed on his sneak attempt, but he kept pushing through the pile until the referees finally signaled touchdown.

Later in the quarter the Yeomen had another prime scoring opportunity that came up empty. A 51-yard connection from Mandel to Kidd put Oberlin in business and a nine-yard pass-play to Adam Niec left the Yeomen with a 1st-and-goal from just inside the 10-yard line. Following a six-yard rush by Moses Richardson, Mandel threw two more incompletions, which resulted in Cook coming out for a 20-yard field goal attempt that he unfortunately pushed out to the right.

Early in the third quarter the Yeomen squared yet another golden opportunity as Shannon Moss forced a fumble on an Oberlin punt that was recovered by the Yeomen at the Scots 28-yard line, but Oberlin went minus three yards on three plays and settled for a touchback punt from Kidd that netted just 11 total yards.

With the offense in flux, the Yeomen defense continued to do their part to keep Oberlin in the game as Jake Kennedy would force another fumble to give the ball back to the Yeomen late in the third. The drive crossed over into the start of the fourth and on a 3-and-11 play from the Scots-21 yard line Mandel threw a jump ball to the end zone for Niec that got tipped into air and was picked off in acrobatic fashion by Quinton Howard.

Battling through injury Mandel tried to rally the offense, but he was intercepted once more deep in his own territory with just 4:10 left to play. The turnover allowed the Scots to add a TD and make it a two-score game.

However, the Yeomen still continued to fight to the end as Cook marched the team down to the Scots 1-yard line, before fumbling the snap to effectively end the game.

Matt Misorski had a career-day for the Oberlin defense with 14 tackles, 12 of which were solo. Dane Stritt added 11 stops, while Derrick Dennis, who ended the first half with an interception, contributed with eight takes, one sack and three tackles for a loss.

The Yeomen will look to bounce back next week when they take on Hiram College at 1 p.m.