Kalamazoo, MI - The Oberlin College football team suffered a 42-10 setback at Kalamazoo College to open the 2023 season on Saturday afternoon. 

Despite the outcome, the new-look Yeomen did have plenty of positives to build off of as the offense finished with 449 yards, setting a school record with 100 plays ran in the game. 

Sophomore quarterback Drew Nye made his first-career start, throwing in 59 times, which is the third most attempts of any Oberlin quarterback in a single game in program history. The Clinton, Connecticut, native completed 33 of those attempts for 335 yards to go along with one touchdown and two interceptions. A total of 12 Yeomen caught at least one pass with junior Evan Smith-Rooks leading the way with 65 yards on a team-high six catches. Rookie Jordan Fishback had a strong debut with 58 yards on three receptions. 

The ground attack also showed its versatility with NuNu Samuels making his first-career appearance on the field and leading the way with 15 carries for 36 yards while Nye and senior Ryan McCrum each added 34 yards rushing. 

The Yeomen found themselves in an early hole, twice coming up empty on fourth down deep in their own territory, which set up the Hornets with a pair of short fields. They would capitalize on both their opportunities, opening up a quick 14-0 lead just four minutes into the game. 

Early in the second quarter the Yeomen were looking to cut the lead in half, marching all the way down to the Kalamazoo 2-yardline. However, on 4th-and-2 a false start penalty backed up Oberlin and forced them to settle for a 25-yard Wes Penta field goal that capped off a 16-play, 88-yard march that took 7:40 off of the clock. 

After the Hornets answered with another TD on the ensuing drive, Oberlin was trying to gain some momentum before the halftime intermission as a 25-yard connection from Nye to Solomon Brennan had the Yeomen just outside the redzone, but the promising drive would quickly come to a halt on a broken play that led to fumble that was recovered by K'Zoo.

The Hornets would take over with 1:58 left in the half and go down and score, going 70 yards in just 1:33 to make it a 28-3 game at the break.

With the final outcome never in doubt, the Hornets would go on to add two more TDs in the third quarter. Oberlin would finally find paydirt in the fourth quarter as Nye hooked up with Brennan on a 13-yard scoring strike to finish off a 13-play, 82-yard jaunt that took 5:38. 

Defensively, the Yeomen were led by freshman Colten Danel who had nine tackles while junior Brandon Hall chipped in with seven stops. Hunter Green and Jake Russell each made four tackles, with Green registering a sack and Russell notching a forced fumble.

Oberlin will return home to host Concordia University of Chicago next Saturday at noon.