Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team put a bow on the 2018 season, falling 47-14 to the Allegheny College Gators on a chilly afternoon at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.
 
Despite the setback, it was a record-setting day for senior wide receiver Ryan Gleeson as he became the first player in the storied history of Yeomen football to surpass 1,000 yards receiving in a season. The Seattle, Washington, native snagged five balls for 106 yards and a score to finish the year with 1,084 yards and 13 touchdowns – both of which are school records.
 
In just 31 career games played, Gleeson totaled 2,165 yards, which is fourth all-time in program history to go along with a record-tying 23 receiving touchdowns to match Chris Schubert (2004-2007) at the top of the record book.
 
Junior running back Melvin Briggs continued to display his big play ability with 133 yards rushing and a TD on just 13 carries as he averaged 10.2 yards per attempt to end the season with 745 yards on 87 rushes for an average of 8.6 yards per tote. The Holly Springs, North Carolina, native also posted a career-best six touchdowns.
 
Playing without starting quarterback Zach Taylor, the Yeomen offense failed to find much traction as they mustered only 242 yards of offense and 11 first downs. Freshman backup Thomas Jenkins was under duress all afternoon long as he was sacked five times while completing just 8-of-26 passes for 123 yards with two interceptions.
 
The Gators posted the game's first points by sacking Jenkins in the end zone for a safety and would go up 16-0 early in the second on two TD runs by Tyler Balla.
 
The Yeomen would get on the board with 8:20 left in the opening half as Jenkins connected with Gleeson from 21 yards out to cap off an 8-play, 58-yard drive that took 4:07 off the clock.
 
Oberlin trailed just 19-7 at the half, but on the first play of the third quarter Alex Victor would escape free for 59-yards to setup Balla for his third score of the day – this one coming six yards out to make it a three-possession lead.
 
The Gators would balloon the advantage out to 40-7 before the Yeomen got back on the board thanks to a 65-yard gallop to the end zone by Briggs late in the third quarter.
 
The game's final score came early in the fourth quarter as Tonye Hamilton picked off Jenkins and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown.
 
Von Wooding led the Yeomen defense with 15 tackles, while Devin White added 10 stops and an interception that he returned 25 yards.
 
Oberlin ends the season at 2-8 overall and 2-7 in the NCAC while the Gators finished 6-4 and 6-3 in league action.
 
The Yeomen will shift their focus to the 2019 season during the non-traditional spring season in April.