Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College football team opens up conference play this Saturday when it travels to league rival Kenyon College for a 2 p.m. clash.
 
What: Oberlin College (0-1, 0-0 NCAC) vs. Kenyon College (0-1, 0-0 NCAC)
When: Saturday, September 13, 2 p.m.
Where McBride Field, Gambier, Ohio
Radio: AM-1320 WOBL – Brian Deitz (p-b-p) Don Vincent (color)
Online Coverage: Live Stats l Live Video l Live Audio
 
Series: Oberlin leads in the all-time series, 40-38-6
 
Last Meeting Against The Lords: The Yeomen offense sputtered for much of the afternoon as the Lords spoiled Oberlin's Homecoming by earning a 21-14 win.
 
Last Time Out for Oberlin: Oberlin College opened its season at The College at Brockport, falling 45-10.
 
Series Information: One of the longest running rivalries, The Yeomen first battled the Lords in 1982 … More recently the teams split the last six meetings, with Kenyon coming out on top in 2012 and 2013 ... In 2011 the Yeomen blanked the Lords 42-0 and in 2010 they escaped with a 29-26 overtime win … Last year the Yeomen led 14-13 at the half and the defense pitched a second-half shutout, however, a strip-sack of Lucas Poggiali gave the Lords the only score of the half and in turn a 21-14 win … Senior Moses Richardson had both Yeomen touchdowns in the game.
 
Scouting The Lords …
Kenyon has won 10 games over the last two seasons under third-year head coach Chris Monfiletto … He took over a team that went 0-10 in 2011 and led them to 6-4 and 4-6 records over the last two years … However, the Lords suffered a 29-11 season-opening loss to Marietta College last Saturday  … Kenyon led 11-0 at the break before allowing 29 unanswered points … The Lords' offense totaled just 172 yards and 11 first downs in the loss … Protection issues hindered their cause as junior quarterback Jake Bates was sacked seven times … Senior running back Brandon January was their top threat on the ground, totaling 55 yards on 16 carries, while sophomore Brian Hunca was Bates' top target as he snagged five balls for 69 yards, including a 32-yard TD.
 
Running Mates …
The Yeomen backfield rushed for 184 yards in its week-one loss to Brockport … Junior Blake Buckhannon racked up a career-best 85 yards on 14 attempts, which was the fifth-best performance in the NCAC last week … After missing the entire 2013 season, senior Justin Williams picked up right where he left off, just nearly setting a career-high with 61 yards on 13 rushes … Poggiali gained 60 yards, but finished with just 38 net after sack yardage was subtracted from his total.

Kelly's Career Day …
Sophomore safety Adrian Kelly made a career-high 11 tackles last week at Brockport, 10 of which were solo … The second-year player started all 10 games last year and totaled 41 tackles … His previous career-high came at Wittenberg on September 28, 2013 when he had eight stops.
 
Special Success …
The Yeomen special teams' units were impressive last week, as senior punter Max Schenk averaged 31.7 yards per punt (2^nd in the NCAC), which including a beauty that was downed inside the 1-yardline to setup the Yeomen's first score … On kickoff returns the Yeomen averaged 13.1 yards per return, which was second best amongst NCAC schools and lastly kicker Erickson Andrews made his only field attempt from 27 yards out to run his career total to 14, leaving him just four short of the all-time record.
 
Stalled Out …
In the 2013 match-up both teams struggled to maintain drives, as the Yeomen were just 1-of-15 on third downs, while the Lords were not much better as they were 3-of-16 … In week one the Yeomen converted 4-of-14 3^rd-down chances, while the Lords were 4-of-15.
 
Making a First Impression …
Offensively, three Yeomen made their first collegiate starts last week … Rookie wide receivers Corey Fussinger and Matthew Bullock were joined by sophomore tight end Alec Bean … On Defense, freshman Anthony Allen started at defensive end, while junior Spencer Conley also drew his first collegiate start along the line.
 
Week-Two Woes …
The Yeomen had won their last four openers prior to last week, but week two has not been as kind in recent years as Oberlin's last week-two win came in 2006 when the Yeomen beat Heidelberg 48-34 en route to a 5-5 season.
 
Road Rage …
Life outside of town has been rough for the Yeomen as they are just 2-14 over their last 16 road games dating back to 2011 … The last time Oberlin has had more than one road win in a season came in 2010 when it beat Kenyon 29-26 in overtime of week one before dismantling Hiram College 47-21 in week three.