Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team will make its return to the gridiron on Saturday afternoon when it travels across state lines to take on the Hornets of Kalamazoo College.
 
What: Oberlin College (0-0) at Kalamazoo College (0-0)
When: Saturday, September 3, 1 p.m.
Where: Kalamazoo College Athletic Complex -- Kalamazoo, MI
Radio: AM-1320 WOBL –Don Vincent (p-b-p)
Online Coverage:  Video  | Live stats l Live Audio
 
Series Information …
The Yeomen and Hornets have met just three times before with Oberlin holding a 2-1 series lead … The first meeting came in 1984 with Oberlin winning 26-10 … The following year the Yeomen prevailed 34-15 … Saturday's showdown will be the first time these two foes will clash since 1998 when the Hornets won 47-2.
 
Scouting the Hornets …
Like the Yeomen, the Hornets posted a 3-7 overall record in 2015 … The defense was a trouble spot last year as they allowed an average 34.3 points and 450.9 yards per game  … Junior quarterback Alex White returns after throwing 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last fall … Senior defensive back BJ Smith, who had 49 tackles and three interceptions, joins White and defensive end Andrew Thiede as team captains … Thiede made 31 stops and had a team-high six sacks in 2015.
 
Yeomen in Openers …
Oberlin has fallen to Brockport in its season opener in the last two years, but prior to that the Yeomen had a nice run going, winning four straight week-one games from 2010-2013 … In 2010 the Yeomen defeated Kenyon College 29-26 in overtime and in 2011 the Yeomen took care of the Lords 42-0 … The 2012 victory came in the form of a 33-3 triumph over Earlham … The last season-opening win was when the Yeomen defeated Case Western Reserve 19-2 in 2013.
 
Why Wait? …
Oberlin is slated to start freshman Zach Taylor at quarterback … The Artesia, California, native had and impressive high school career at Buena Park and earned the starting nod during preseason camp … In his last two seasons in high school, Taylor complied 6,989 passing yards and threw for 73 touchdowns while averaging 268.8 yards per game … He also added 1,911 yards on the ground with 26 rushing touchdowns. (stats according to maxpreps.com) … Taylor is the first freshman to start a game under center for the Yeomen since September 22, 2012 when current running backs coach Lucas Poggiali made his first-career start in week three against the University of Chicago.
 
Wide Receiver Weapons …
The Oberlin receiving corps boasts nine playmakers that have the ability to cause problems for opposing defenses ... Senior Justin Cruz, who leads the unit, has produced 1,492 yards and 16 touchdowns on 120 catches in his career … The sophomore trio of Jabari Clemons, Robby Reinheimer and Ryan Gleeson all turned in impressive rookie seasons, combining for 997 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
Special Deliveries …
Freshmen Michael Leshchyshyn and Ian Schmitzerle have arrived to hopefully steady the Yeomen's kicking game, which was in drastic need of an overhaul … Leshchyshyn a native of Seattle, Washington, converted 16 of 19 PAT's at Roosevelt High School and averaged 42.2 yards on kickoffs last year (stats according to maxpreps.com) … Schmitzerle is product of Plymouth, Michigan and will tasked with improving upon the Yeomen's 27 yards per punt from 2015.
 
Sleepover …
The trip to Kalamazoo is one of two overnight journeys for the Yeomen this fall … The team will be stopping at the University of Toledo to practice on Friday before continuing on to Michigan … The Yeomen will also have a Friday departure when they travel to Crawfordsville, Indiana, for an October 8 showdown at Wabash College.