Box Score OBERLIN, Ohio – Traction was hard to come by Saturday at rain-soaked Savage Stadium. The ball was slippery and the field muddy. The Kenyon College Lords, however, were steady enough to pull out a 21-14 football victory against the host Oberlin College Yeomen.

With aerial attacks all but decommissioned by the conditions, the outcome of the game was decided at the line of scrimmage, which the Lords (3-2, 3-1 NCAC) did a better job of controlling than the Yeomen (1-3, 0-3 NCAC). Offensively, Kenyon piled up 173 rushing yards. Defensively, the Purple and White amassed eight sacks, ten tackles-for-losses, and held Oberlin to a total of just seven rushing yards.

Saturday's setting turned into a field day for Lords' defense, which also forced three Oberlin turnovers and allowed just one Yeomen third-down conversion in 15 chances. Senior linebacker Kolin Sullivan led the charge with nine tackles, three-and-a-half sacks, and one forced fumble. Defensive lineman Cam Ventling recovered two fumbles and forced one. Fellow lineman Ryan Rosen had five tackles, two-and-a-half-sacks, and the biggest play of the game. With the score tied at 14-14 in the third quarter, Sullivan sacked Oberlin quarterback Lucas Poggiali for a loss of 19 yards. During the hit, the ball squirted out of Poggiali's arms and Rosen was there to scoop it up, take it into the end zone, and put Kenyon ahead for good.

The Yeomen did manage 131 passing yards during the game, but combined with their feeble rushing mark, Oberlin's total offensive output was 138 yards on 62 plays—an average of just 2.2 yards per play. On the flip side, Kenyon passed for only 93 yards, but with the rushing game chugging to the tune of 173 yards, there was no need to test the air attack in the unfavorable conditions.

On the ground, Kenyon sophomore Casey Beaudouin racked up 92 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. His touchdown run came in the second quarter and gave the Lords a 13-7 lead. It was set up by one of the three Oberlin fumbles, so the Lords' drive needed to cover only 36 yards before hitting pay dirt.

Junior Brandon January added 36 rushing yards for the Lords and freshman Jack Hanratty contributed 26. Back in the first quarter of play, January scored the game's first touchdown on a run from five yards out. That score capped off an 11-play, 65-yard Kenyon drive that took 4:11 off the clock.

Despite Kenyon's dominance, Oberlin still had a chance to change the outcome. With 2:01 left in the fourth quarter, the Yeomen started their final drive on their own 23-yard line. They moved the ball to their own 47, but then faced a fourth-and-13 with 1:02 left. After a Kenyon timeout, Oberlin's Poggiali dropped back to pass. As he released, he was hit by linebacker Reed Franklin and the ball sailed well out of the reach of the intended receiver. Kenyon got the ball back and burned off the final few seconds in victory formation.

The Lords, winners of two straight, now return home to host Hiram College next Saturday at noon.