CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. -- Through the first half Saturday, the Kenyon College football team played step-for-step with the unbeaten and nationally-ranked Wabash College Little Giants. Then, an early touchdown in the third quarter seemed to break the Lords' spirits.

Kenyon was unable to hold back the Wabash steamroller any longer and the Lords came away with a 35-0 loss at Hollett Little Giant Stadium in North Coast Athletic Conference play. Kenyon (3-5, 2-5 NCAC) gave up touchdown drives of 60, 65 and 71 yards in the second half. The defense was unable to stop senior running back Mason Zurek, who finished with 194 rushing yards, from making big plays.

Kenyon senior quarterback Jake Bates was harassed all game long. He was sacked just three times but was rushed into many incompletions. Bates went 17-for-36 for 166 yards. Junior Brian Hunca was Bates' favorite target. He had seven catches for 89 yards. Ian Bell had five catches for 27 yards.

The Lords' ground game, meantime, never really got started. With injured starter Blake Calcei on the sideline, Kenyon averaged just 1.5 yards per rush, with freshman Rob Meagher leading the way with 43 yards on nine carries. Bell added 13 yards on five carries.

Wabash (6-0, 5-0 NCAC), ranked No. 10 in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll, looked as if it would decide the game early. Two long runs up the middle led to a sweep by Connor Rice to give the Little Giants a 7-0 lead on their first drive. After that, the Lords held their ground. They used three down linemen but stacked the box with at least eight defenders.

The Kenyon defense also had its opportunities in the first half. Sam Weaver had two interceptions slip through his fingers -- one of which would have certainly meant a touchdown for the Lords. As Wabash drove down the field in the final minute of the half, freshman Tommy Pridemore picked off a Rice pass at the Kenyon 40 to end the threat.

Offensively, the Lords played their best in the first quarter. They ran misdirection plays using multiple formations to keep the Little Giants on their toes. Wabash adjusted its defense in the second quarter, pulling its linebackers off the line and allowing them more time to react. As a result, Kenyon didn't have a single first down in the second quarter.

In the second half, Wabash made sure the Lords would not entertain any ideas of a comeback. On their first drive, the Little Giants scored when Rice passed to Drake Christian from five yards out. Rice went 4-for-4 on the drive.

Two drives later, Wabash's Shamir Johnson took the ball and ran 12 yards for another score.

That's when the bottom dropped out for the Lords. Bates was stopped behind the line of scrimmage three times on the next drive and the ball went to Wabash on downs. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Zurek bolted for a 51-yard touchdown run and a 28-0 lead.

Rice threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Oliver Page midway through the fourth quarter to end the scoring.

Overall, Kenyon was outgained 577-213 and the loss was the Lords' third straight.

Kenyon will now take a week off before looking for a win at home against The College of Wooster on Saturday, Oct. 31.