Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team was 2:20 away from celebrating senior day with a victory, but Nate Eaton's 98-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown spoiled the potential party as the visiting Hiram College Terriers used a 14-point  fourth quarter to defeat the Yeomen 24-21 on Saturday afternoon at the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex.

The Yeomen led 13-3 at the half, but were very sluggish in the second half as they could never put the Terriers away for good and eventually paid the ultimate price for that.

Oberlin's defense had six takeaways, but netted just 14 points off of the Hiram miscues.

The Yeomen rushed for just six net yards, finishing with 274 total yards. In his final game, senior quarterback Lucas Poggiali was 20-of-39 passing for 237 yards. He threw two TDs and two interceptions in the loss.

The Terriers took an early 3-0 lead on their first drive of the game, marching 72 yards on 10-plays, but the Yeomen defense stiffened in the red zone to hold them to a 29-yard field goal from Sam Conway.

Oberlin would end the opening quarter with a touchdown as Poggiali found NCAC Newcomer of the Year candidate Robby Reinheimer for a 15-yard touchdown. The score capped a 10-play, 61-yard jaunt that took 4:26 off the clock.

Early in the second quarter the two foes would trade interceptions with Fletcher Quigley getting the ball back into Poggiali's hands at the Hiram 24-yardline. After three plays totaled a loss of a yard, the Yeomen went for it on 4^th-and-11 and the gamble paid off in the form of a 25-yard touchdown pass to Justin Cruz.

Oberlin took the 10-point lead into the intermission and on their first possession of the third quarter they marched 79 yards on 10 plays and used 7:15 of the clock, but had nothing to show for it. After three straight QB sneaks from inside the 3-yardline, the Yeomen tried to sweep the end with Cruz, but he too was snuffed out.

However, it ended up being a wash on the scoreboard as on Hiram's first offensive play, Anthony Allen busted through the line and stripped running back Danny Robinson of the football. Freshman linebacker Kenny Williams fell on the loose ball in the end zone for the Yeomen touchdown. A two-point pass to Chris Mueller was successful as the Yeomen appeared to be well in control with a 21-3 lead in hand.

The Terriers would not go away as they responded later in the third with a quick 5-play, 46-yard scoring drive that took just 1:18 off the clock. The 9-yard TD catch by Eaton made it a two-score game at 21-10.

Hiram really put the pressure on the Yeomen early in the fourth quarter. A 65-yard catch-and-run by Britton Lewis put them in business at the Oberlin 17-yardline. Five plays later, quarterback Nic Paolo ran it in from three yards out to cut the deficit down to five, 21-16.

The clock couldn't move fast enough for Oberlin and its fans as their next two possessions were both 3-and-out.

With 2:33 left in the game, Matt Bullock delivered his best punt of the season that was downed at the Hiram 2-yardlime. However, the Terriers wasted no time attacking the Oberlin defense as Eaton got behind the secondary on a go-route – catching the ball at the 40 and running the rest of the way for what proved to be the game-winning score.

The Yeomen had one last chance, taking over with 2:12 to go.  A big 4th-down catch by Mueller kept their chances alive. A 21-yard snag by Reinheimer and 16-yard catch by Cruz were also key on the drive. On 3^rd-and-4, Mueller secured another 13-yard reception over the middle down to the Hiram 21-yardline, but just six seconds remained. On the final play of the game Poggiali looked towards Reinheimer in the endzone, but his throw was too high.

Mueller had the best game of his career, finishing with six catches for 43 yards. Reinheimer ended with 85 yards and a score on five receptions, while Cruz added 65 yards on four catches to go along with a TD.

The, Yeomen who honored their 10 seniors prior to kickoff, finish the season at 3-7 overall and 3-6 in the NCAC.