Little Giants Play Big in the Second Half
Mike Mancini, Oberlin College Athletics
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| Solomon Turner had a career-high 14 tackles. |
November 2, 2009 --
The Oberlin College (Website | Profile) football team played their best half of the season, trailing just 7-3 to the nationally ranked Wabash Little Giants after 30 minutes of play, but in the end the visitors proved too be too strong as they went on to earn a 41-9 win over the Yeomen on Saturday afternoon at Savage Stadium.
Freshman Robin Witjes earned Co-Heisman Club Player of the Game honors as he accounted for 181 total yards with 39 yards receiving, 103 kick return yards and a 39 yard touchdown pass to Adam Niec.
The Yeomen defense force three punts, a turnover on downs and a missed field goal on the Little Giants’ first five possessions of the game. It wouldn’t be till 3:33 remaining in the first half when Wabash finally got on the board on an 11-yard touchdown strike from Matt Hudson to Kody LeMond.
However, the Yeomen would respond with a 10-play, 61-yard drive that ended in Zach Richard’s longest field goal of the season from 37 yards out. The drive was aided by two 15-yard penalties on Wabash, who finished the day with 10 infractions for a total of 105 yards.
The Yeomen had a chance to take the early lead just minutes into the second quarter, but an 8-play, 60-yard drive came to a halt on the Wabash 6-yardline when quarterback David Kalgren was pressured and stripped of the football, marking the first of five Oberlin turnovers on the day.
Unfortunately, the third quarter was completely controlled by the Little Giants as they scored four touchdowns in the period to put the game out of reach for the Yeomen.
One of Oberlin’s bright spots in the second half came on a trick play as Witjes lined-up at receiver and took a backwards pass from Kalgren and then looked down field to a wide-open Niec for a 39-yard score with 7:21 left in the fourth quarter.
Freshman Joe Cook also saw some time under center on Oberlin’s final drive of the game, completing a 30-yard go-route down the far sideline to Witjes. He also rushed the ball three times for 11 yards.
Kalgren, who continues to blossom each week, finished 12-of-27 for 128 yards passing. Sophomore C.J. Holman caught a team-high four passes for 50 yards, while Niec led the Yeomen with 78 yards receiving on three catches.
Sharing Heisman Club Player of the Game honors with Niec was defensive back Solomon Turner as he finished with a career-high 14 tackles. Eric Enrico also had eight stops for the Yeomen. Jake Hochendoner, Adam Wigren and Clay Eaton all registered sacks in the contest as the Yeomen finished with a season-best seven tackles for a loss.
