Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team will close out the home potion of its 2014 season when Ohio Wesleyan University comes to town on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
 
What: Oberlin College (2-6, 2-5 NCAC) vs. Ohio Wesleyan University (4-4, 3-4 NCAC)
When: Saturday, November 8, 1 p.m.
Where: Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex; Oberlin, Ohio
Radio: AM-1320 WOBL – Brian Deitz (p-b-p) Don Vincent (color)
Online Coverage: Live Stats l Live Video l Live Audio
 
Series: The Bishops lead the all-time series, 20-51-1, in a match-up that dates back to 1892. That was the Yeomen's first undefeated season under John W. Heisman, as Oberlin shutout Ohio Wesleyan 56-0. The Yeomen's last victory in the series came in 2010 with a 16-12 win.
 
Last Meeting Against The Battling Bishops: On November 9 of 2013, the Yeomen fell behind early and went into halftime down 21-0 … However, they tried to rally in the second half, but fell short in a 28-14 loss … Dan Bolotsky returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown, while fullback Nick Theofilos plunged in from a yard out for the two Yeomen touchdowns.
 
Last Time Out for Oberlin: The struggles at home continued for the Yeomen last week as they dropped a 34-7 decision to Denison … Oberlin struck first on a 4-yard Lucas Poggiali TD run, but from there the Big Red took over … The Yeomen offense managed just 170 yards of offense in the loss.
 
Scouting the Battling Bishops …
The Bishops enter Saturday's contest having lost three out of their last four games, including a 42-6 setback last Saturday to Wittenberg  … However, Ohio Wesleyan still averages over 100 yards more than the Yeomen in total offense at 391 yards per game … On the flipside the Bishops' defense has been gashed for 446.9 yards per game … Quarterback Dominick Orsini is a dual-threat player as he averages 195.4 yards per game passing and 60.5 yards per game rushing … The sophomore has thrown for eight touchdowns and rushed for six … Tight End Calvin Cagney is his top target, catching a team-high 48 balls for 397 yards and three TDs … He is also a treat as a runner with 33 carries for 255  yards and three TDs … OWU has two linebackers who rank in the top 10 in the NCAC in tackling as Morgan McBride has 74 tackles and five sacks, while Chris Mondon enters with 62 stops and 2.5 sacks.
 
Off Target …
Junior quarterback Lucas Poggiali is going to need to get on the same page with his receivers if the Yeomen are going to win on Saturday … Over the last two weeks the Yeomen signal caller has connected on just 19-of-48 (39.5%) passes with two interceptions and no touchdowns … On the season he has completed 98 passes on 193 attempts, for a 50-percent success rate … Coach Anderson and Coach Saunders are hoping he can return to form he displayed against Allegheny when he went 20-of-24 for 283 yards and three TDs.
 
Finding the Ground Game …
Oberlin's ground attack has suffered in recent weeks, totaling just 41 yards against Wabash and 95 yards last week against Denison … Rookie Khalil Rivers ran 20 times for 47 yards against the Big Red and netted just 23 yards on 10 carries against Wabash as he averaging just 2.3 yards per carry during that stretch … Fellow rookie Joseph Myrick has also been held in check, totaling 51 yards on 22 attempts over the last two weeks.
 
Standing Alone …
With his 5-catch, 63-yard performance against Denison last week, sophomore receiver Justin Cruz surpassed 700 yards for the season and enters this week with 47 catches for 710 yards and seven touchdowns … He his the first player since Robin Witjes to reach the 700-yard plateau as Witjes achieved the feat in 2011 with 722 yards, which is seventh on the all-time single-season list … No other wide out on the Yeomen roster has more than 11 catches and Cruz's 710 yards account for nearly 60 percent of the team's total of 1,185 receiving yards.
 
Welcome Back Bute …
After suffering an injury in the middle part of the season, the Yeomen were happy to have sophomore linebacker Justin Bute back in the lineup the past two weeks … He certainly displayed his talents last week, totaling a team-high nine tackles with seven solos against the Big Red.

Last Chance …
Saturday's game marks the last chance for the Yeomen to get a win this season at their new home, the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex … The first four contests have not been kind to the Yeomen as they have lost to Wooster (63-10), Wittenberg (48-10), DePauw (54-14) and Denison (34-7).
 
Saying Good Bye …
Oberlin will honor its five seniors prior to kickoff on Saturday … Kicker Erickson Andrews departs a four-year letter-winner and as the school's all-time field goal leader … Linebacker and punter Max Schenk is having the best year of his career, while Josh Guisler, Rory Kaip and Jake Fannin have been mainstays on the Yeomen offensive line for the last three years.