DELAWARE, Ohio – In a game crammed full of big scoring plays, the last one propelled the Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops to a 25-17 North Coast Athletic Conference football victory over the Kenyon College Lords.

With the score tied 17-17 in the fourth quarter, Ohio Wesleyan's Dominick Orsini ran around the right end, picked up a couple of blocks from his receivers and bolted into the end zone from 54 yards away. That touchdown, scored with 5:23 left on the clock, was one of the game's six touchdown plays that covered 30 yards or more.

Instead of facing a typical seven-point deficit after that touchdown, the Lords were staring at an eight-point margin because of a controversial call that gave the Battling Bishops a two-point conversion after the kick attempt was blocked by Kenyon, but caught in the air by an Ohio Wesleyan player.

The ensuing kickoff left the Lords on their own 31-yard line. Key pass plays from freshman quarterback Thomas Merkle to tight end John O'Brien and receivers Jibri McLean and Brian Hunca moved Kenyon down to the Ohio Wesleyan 36-yard line. The drive, which ended up going 16 plays, carried on to the 17-yard line, where the Lords set up first-and-ten with 61 seconds left on the clock.

Merkle then looked to Hunca twice and Ian Robertson twice, but could not find a connection. Pass break-ups from Torii Hilbert and Cameron Dawson caused the Kenyon drive to come to an end and secured the win for the Battling Bishops.

Kenyon was playing catch-up for most of the game. After a scoreless first quarter, Ohio Wesleyan opened the second with a 52-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Jax Harville to senior receiver Ross Hickenbottom.

Later in the second, Kenyon senior Joe Marabito picked up a Battling Bishops fumble and returned it 25 yards down to the OWU 10-yard line. Four plays later, Merkle kept the ball himself and ran to the left corner of the end zone, tying the game at seven.

Ohio Wesleyan (2-3, 2-2 NCAC) answered with a 12-play, 59-yard drive that covered 1:21 and ended with a Tim Shadoan 33-yard field goal. When play resumed in the third quarter, Shadoan took the Kenyon kick-off and raced 90 yards to pay dirt, giving the Battling Bishops a 17-7 advantage.

The Lords (3-3, 2-3 NCAC) failed to get much offense going until they were given excellent field position late in the third quarter. Starting at their own 48-yard line, they put together a short drive that carried into the fourth quarter and resulted in a 31-yard field goal from senior Szabi Simo.

On the first play of their next drive, the Lords combo of Merkle and Hunca hooked up again. This time it was a 68-yard touchdown toss down the right sideline that knotted things at 17-17.

Merkle finished the game 28-of-51 for 305 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Hunca caught nine of those passes and turned them into 135 yards and a touchdown. Robertson added seven catches for 73 yards. On the ground, the Lords struggled again, managing just 29 yards on 34 carries. Rob Meagher returned from injury to lead the way with 32 yards on 13 carries.

Ohio Wesleyan didn't fare well with the run, either. The Battling Bishops totaled 87 yards on 25 attempts. In the air, Harville was 21-of-40 for 229 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Hickenbottom was the main target, hauling in 13 catches for 177 yards and a touchdown.

Senior linebacker Mike Gibbons led the Lords with nine tackles, while junior Curt Williams and senior Jack Hanratty came up with the interceptions.