Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team turned in a commanding performance on both sides of the ball as it defeated the visiting Hiram College Terriers, 27-14, on Saturday afternoon at the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex.
 
The victory snapped a three-game skid against the Terriers and also ended the Yeomen's six-game losing streak on the year.
 
Oberlin did the bulk of its work on the ground, rushing for 248 of its 382 total yards in the game. Junior Melvin Briggs ran for a career-high 113 yards and quarterback Zach Taylor added 104 yards and a score as well.
 
Through the air, Taylor was 11-of-26 for 134 yards. Senior Corey Fussinger was his top target as he snagged four balls for 80 yards.
 
On the opening drive of the game, senior Drew Nolan intercepted Hiram quarterback Randy Tucker and set the Yeomen up at the Terriers' 35-yard line, but Oberlin had to settle for a career-long 40-yard field goal from sophomore Michael Leshchyshyn.
 
The Terriers would respond with an 8-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard TD toss to CJ Manner to make it 7-3 in favor of the Terriers.
 
Later in the first quarter, the Yeomen had great field position following a 20-yard punt by Sam Conway. On the next play, Taylor called his own number with a designed QB draw – running straight up the middle and spinning out of multiple tackles on his way to the end zone for a 39-yard TD to make it 10-7.
 
The Yeomen would take a 13-7 lead into the halftime intermission as a Leshchyshyn's 21-yard field goal with five seconds left in the second quarter were the only points in the period.
 
Oberlin would take control of the game in the second half, starting the third quarter with an impressive 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive. An 18-yard run by Taylor on 3^rd-and-8 was followed with a 13-yard rip by Briggs to setup a first and goal from the 4-yard line. Briggs would finish the drive with his first TD of the game to extend the Yeomen lead.
 
Midway way through the third quarter, the Yeomen would continue to put the pressure on the Terriers.  A 40-yard strike from Taylor to Fussinger put Oberlin down to the Hiram 2-yard line and on the next play Briggs reached out over the goal line for his second score – marking the first multi-touchdown game of his career.
 
Hiram would get within two scores early in the fourth quarter as Tucker capped an 8-play, 83-yard jaunt with a 4-yard TD run.
 
On the ensuing possession, Hiram would block Leshchyshyn's field goal try to put some pressure back on the Yeomen defense.
 
The Terriers would drive deep into Yeomen territory, but Von Wooding would pick off Tucker at the 5-yard line to effectively end the game. Wooding finished the day with a career-high 15 tackles to run his season total to 93.
 
Bennett Jackson added 10 tackles and two pass break-ups, while Malachi Clemons chipped in with eight stops, a pass break-up, and a blocked field goal.
 
The Yeomen defense contained Hiram running back Danny Robinson to just 27 yards rushing. He entered the game ranked second in the NCAC in rushing at 117 yards per game.
 
Oberlin (3-6, 2-6 NCAC) will honor its senior class next Saturday when it plays host to Allegheny College in the season finale at 1 p.m.