Meadville, PA – The Oberlin College football team led by 18 points at the half but surrendered 39 second-half points as the Allegheny College Gators came roaring back to a defeat the Yeomen 42-38 to close out the 2021 season.
 
Junior quarterback Chris Allen Jr. did all he could in the loss, throwing for 303 yards and five touchdowns on 24-of-39 passing. He ends the season with 2,365 passing yards, which is the second-best single-season total in program history behind Greg Mangan's effort of 2,404 yards that he posted in 2006. Furthermore, Allen Jr. added 31 yards on the ground to finish the season with 2,695 yards of total offense, which is a single-season school record as he passed Zach Taylor's 2017 total of 2,525. His 19 passing TDs also tied Willie Martinez's 1974 mark for second all-time in a season.
 
The second half shortcomings began right from the restart and despite a few promising responses, the Yeomen didn't have enough in the tank to stop the reenergized Gators.
 
The game couldn't have gotten off to a better start for the Yeomen as rookie Antonio Sanderson came away with his third interception of the season on Allegheny's first drive of the contest. It didn't take long for the Yeomen to capitalize as Allen Jr. found Kobe Brooks on a screen pass that he turned up field for a 41-yard catch-and-run touchdown to stake the Yeomen to early 7-0 lead while capping off an 8-play, 68-yard drive that lasted 3:44.
 
After Allegheny responded with a field goal, the Yeomen offense went right back to work. A great kickoff return by Maurice Wickware gave Oberlin a short field to work with and the Yeomen took advantage, needing just four plays to extend lead out to 14-3 as Allen Jr. found a streaking Brian Colarusso in the seam for a 33-yard scoring strike with 40 seconds left in the opening quarter.
 
The Yeomen would make in three-for-three with touchdowns on their first three drives, cashing in the lone points of the second quarter to carry a 21-3 lead into the intermission. A methodical 11-play, 60-yard march that took 5:54 ended with Brandon Davies hauling in a 5-yard TD toss from Allen Jr. marking his fifth score of the year and third straight week with a touchdown.
 
The Gators tried to cut into the deficit before the break, but the Yeomen defense stood tall during the two-minute drill as the half ended with Ethan Boufford sacking Jack Johnson for a 13-yard loss to close out the opening 30 minutes and protect the Yeomen's 18-point advantage.
 
However, it was a different story for the Yeomen in the second half. After going 3-and-out on their opening drive, two personal foul penalties on defense essentially gift-wrapped the Gators their first touchdown of the game to shrink Oberlin's lead down to 21-10.
 
Oberlin would respond with a 51-yard touchdown as a missed tackle in the backfield allowed Ryan McCrum to escape free for the long-distance TD on a short screen pass.
 
The Yeomen employed a short kickoff strategy throughout the game, and it ended up costing them valuable field position as the Gators took over at their own 46-yardline on the ensuing possession and would need just five plays and 1:24 to get the touchdown right back. Jack Johnson connected with Anthony Steinpreis for a 35-yard TD on what was a shallow crossing route that the Yeomen failed to cover.
 
After a stop by Allegheny, Oberlin punter Sam Bingaman would then drop the snap to give Allegheny the ball at the Oberlin 24-yardline and they would cash in a touchdown on the very next play to shrink the gap to five, 28-23.
 
The fourth quarter started with Allen Jr. connecting with Christian Arnold on a beautifully designed wheel route for a 30-yard TD to make it 35-23 but the Gators wouldn't go away.
 
The margin would be trimmed to six on Allegheny's next possession and another special teams miscue cost the Yeomen dearly as Bingaman had a punt blocked that was returned to the Oberlin 5-yardline. Tre Worship would punch it in from there to give Allegheny its first lead of the game at 36-35 with 10:53 left to play.
 
Oberlin would answer with a 13-play drive, but it ultimately stalled out in the red zone as they had to settle for 24-yard go-ahead field goal from Bingaman.
 
Allegheny took over with 5:20 remaining and the Yeomen defense couldn't keep them off the board as they ended their time in the North Coast Athletic Conference with a game-winning drive. Oberlin had a golden opportunity to get off the field as Allegheny faced a 4^th-and-11 but Johnson hit Declan O'Brien on a quick slant, and he snuck out of a tackle for a 24-yard gain down to the 26. Two plays later Ian Durci hauled in a 9-yard TD pass to send the Yeomen home heartbroken.
 
The Yeomen would take over with one timeout and 97 seconds left to play but Allen Jr. was sacked twice on the drive as they turned it over on downs.
 
Oberlin ends the season at 1-9 overall and 1-8 in the NCAC.