Oberlin, Ohio- The Oberlin College football team begins its 121st season on September 1 when the Yeomen travel to Richmond, Indiana to take on the Earlham College Quakers.
 
What: Oberlin College Yeomen (0-0) @ Earlham College Quakers (0-0)
When: Saturday, September 1 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Where: Darrell Beane Stadium – Richmond, Indiana
 
Series: Oberlin trails the all-time series 10-16.
 
Last Meeting Against the Quakers: Oberlin beat Earlham 19-13 (10/24/09)
 
Last Time out for the Yeomen: Beat Allegheny 14-13 (11/12/11)
 
Series Information …
The two teams meet for the first time since a 19-13 Yeomen win in 2009 ... Earlham leads the series between the two teams, dating back to 1942, 16-10 … In the 2009 meeting, current defensive back David Kalgren was the Yeomen quarterback and he threw for 142 yards and a score ... He also ran for 66 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
 
A Quick Look at the Quakers …
Earlham College enters the 2012 season coming off of two consecutive winless seasons… In the offseason the Quakers named Neil Kazmierczak as their new head coach… Earlham's offensive production is expected to come from its two returning all-conference wide receivers from 2011, senior Jaysn Murphy and junior Kaleb Lingg… Murphy led Earlham last year with 35 catches for 458 yards and two touchdowns… Lingg was close behind as he hauled in 34 catches for 425 yards and a score, while also taking on the quarterback responsibilities later in the year… Defensively, defensive backs senior Dakota McElley and junior Justin Darden lead the Quakers… Darden was fifth on the team with 54 tackles, while also adding two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
 
Air it Out Josh …
Senior quarterback Josh Mandel enters the 2012 season looking for another record-breaking campaign… In 2011, Mandel set school records for passing yards in a game (458 vs. Washington), and passing touchdowns in a season (20)… His 2,048 total yards passing is also fourth all-time … The fifth-year senior threw at least one touchdown pass in eight of the nine games he played in, and he completed 61.6% of his passes on the year … With four senior wide receivers, Mandel's arsenal is full of weapons to lead the Yeomen down the field through the air.
 
Veteran Receiving Core…
The receiving core features four seniors: Robin Witjes, Dan Weintraub, Adam Niec and #Peter Morris#… Leading the group is Witjes, who is coming off a very productive season in where he pulled down 62 receptions for 722 yards and six touchdowns… Weintraub, who jumped onto the scene late last season, is back after hauling in 28 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns… Rounding out the group is Niec who ended 2011 with 23 grabs for 303 yards and five scores… After missing last year, Morris returns as a top speed threat. 
 
Hitting the Ground Running…   
The Yeomen offense set multiple school passing records in 2011, but look to solidify a running game in 2012… Oberlin returns its entire starting offensive line from last season… Seniors Tyler Benson, Zeki Alikaya, and Robert Conte lead the line, while junior Jim Adkins and sophomore Rory Kaip return as experienced veterans from 2011… In addition to a solid offensive line coming back, the Yeomen return a talented backfield in junior Moses Richardson, sophomore Justin Williams and the addition of freshman Blake Buckhannon… Richardson returns in 2012 after a short season due to an injury in 2011 where he ran for 320 yards and two scores while averaging 4.6 yards a carry…
 
Can't Stop Clay…
USA College Football First Team Preseason All-American Clay Eaton leads the defensive line… The senior comes into the 2012 season sitting in second place on the list for sacks in a career with 19.5, three away from the record… In 2011, he recorded 11 sacks in the season, which was the second highest total all-time in a single season and led the NCAC.
 
Dynamic Defensive Seven…
Seniors Matt Misorski and Dane Stritt who had 64 and 39 tackles, respectively, in 2011 lead the Yeomen linebacking crew… The Yeomen secondary also features several experienced seniors returning in 2012 including Matt Richard, Shawn Charpczynski, USA College Football Preseason Regional All-Star David Kalgren... In 2011, Richard ranked in the top-five on the team in tackles with 57, as Chrapczynski and Kalgren both finished the year with 52.
 
Third Times a Charm…
After a 13-season drought of week one victories, the Yeomen look to make 2012 the third consecutive year begun with a win in week one… In 2010 and 2011, Oberlin defeated Kenyon in the first week of the season… Last season's week one win against the Lords was a 42-0 shutout, the first blanking of an opponent since 1982.