Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team will celebrate its 125-year anniversary and cap off Homecoming Weekend as they welcome the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan University to town on Saturday night.
 
What: Ohio Wesleyan University (0-2, 0-1 NCAC) vs. Oberlin College (0-3, 0-2 NCAC)
When: Saturday, September 24, 6 p.m.
Where: Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex, Oberlin, Ohio
Radio: AM-1320 WOBL – Don Vincent (p-b-p) l Chris Schubert (Color)
Online Coverage: Live Stats l Live Video l Live Audio
 
Coaching to Cure …
Head coach Jay Anderson and his staff will be participating in the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) Coach to Cure initiative to raise funds and awareness to combat Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys across all races and cultures. People with Duchenne develop progressive muscle weakness that eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne and limited therapeutic options exist.
 
Oberlin College will be donating half of its gate fees from Saturday's game to Coach to Cure. Football fans can help support the fight to end Duchenne by either going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically be added to your next phone bill). Last year, more than 10,000 college coaches at more than 525 different institutions participated in Coach To Cure MD events. The eight-year fundraising total is just over $1.2 million.
 
Series Information …
The Yeomen trail the all-time series, 20-53-1, 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 Time Against the Battling Bishops …
A lot went right for the Yeomen in the meeting last year down in Delaware - except the final score, which ended 55-42 in favor of the Bishops … Oberlin out-gained OWU 431-315, had four more first downs (19-15) and won time of possession by nearly 10 minutes … However, the Bishops scored 27 first-quarter points and led 48-12 in the third quarter before the Yeomen came charging back … Three Yeomen touchdowns to start the fourth quarter put the pressure back on OWU, but the Bishops would never relinquish the lead … Current running backs coach Lucas Poggiali threw for 342 yards, while wide outs Robby Reinheimer and Jabari Clemons combined for 203 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Scouting the Bishops …
OWU enters the contest having played two touch opponents, falling 56-0 to No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor and 33-7 to longtime NCAC power Wittenberg … The Bishops are averaging just 239.5 yards of offense and defensively have surrendered 1,024 (512 ypg) yards, including 692 on the ground … Third down conversions have been an area of concern thus far as they moved sticks just six times on 37 tries for a 16-percent success rate …  Dual-threat quarterback Dominick Orsini has accounted for 357 yards of total offense through their first two games … Cheyne Lacanaria leads a deep and talented receiving corps that has seen nine different players catch a pass this season …  Seniors Mason Tomblin and Gary Brodek have combined for 43 tackles along the Bishops' defensive front.
 
Touchdowns for Taylor …
Freshman quarterback Zach Taylor continues to make his presence felt as he leads the North Coast Athletic Conference with seven touchdown passes this season … Taylor also tops the conference with an average of 14.3 yards per completion and his 58 rushing attempts are a league high … The Artesia, California, native enters this week ranked sixth in the league in total offense with an average of 243.7 yards per game.
 
Got Get You One …
The Yeomen secondary has had their opportunities through the first three weeks to come away with multiple interceptions, but thus far just Bennett Jackson has been able to haul one in … Saturday's match-up should provide additional chances as OWU quarterbacks Dominick Orsini and Brain Berry have combined for five picks in just two games this season … In 2015 The Yeomen had six INT's.
 
Melvin Making it Happen …
Rookie running back Melvin Briggs was a bright spot in last week's defeat to the Big Red as he rushed for 92 yards on 11 carries and added 82 return yards for 174 all-purpose yards … The Holly Springs, North Carolina, native is proving to be a valuable addition as he ranks fourth in the NCAC with an average of 24.9 yards per return on kickoffs while his 112 all-purpose yards per game is 10^th best in the NCAC.
 
Where Are You Running? …
Oberlin has rushed the ball an NCAC-high 135 times and is averaging 116 yards per game on the ground … Taylor has been the team's top ground gainer as he is averaging 53 yards per game, which is ninth-best in the NCAC … However, the Yeomen must improve upon their 2.6 yards per carry average in order to sustain drives and start titling the time of possession into their favor.
 
Bootin' It …
Freshman Ian Schmitzerle has punted an NCAC-high 22 times for a conference best 711 yards … The rookie from Plymouth, Michigan, has placed five punts inside the 20 and has induced nine fair catches … He is averaging 32.2 yards per punt.