GAMBIER, Ohio – The Kenyon College football team closed out the 2018 season Saturday with a 61-7 loss to the Denison University Big Red. While the result was forgettable, Kenyon quarterback Thomas Merkle and receiver Ian Robertson reached a couple of memorable milestones.

Merkle, a junior, needed just five passing yards Saturday to establish a new Kenyon career record. He ended up setting the record on a first-quarter, four-yard pass to Andris Balodis. By the end of the game, Merkle had 98 passing yards, bringing his career total to 8,248 yards. That mark eclipsed the previous Kenyon career record of 8,154 yards set by Brad Hensley '95.

Robertson, a senior, also established a Kenyon record. His seven catches against Denison gave him 101 for the season. That total surpassed the Lords' previous single-season mark of 99 receptions set by Brian Hunca in his senior season of 2016.

The Merkle-to-Robertson connection drove Kenyon's offense throughout the 2018 season and Saturday, it was about the only thing the Lords, who had 117 yards of total offense, could count on. Merkle's 98 passing yards came on 11 completions in 26 attempts. Robertson's seven catches went for 83 yards.

In the fourth quarter, Merkle and Robertson set up Kenyon's only score of the game. A 49-yard pass play between the two put Kenyon in a first-and-goal situation at the Denison three-yard line. One play later, Merkle threw a quick out to running back Rob Meagher, who bolted into the left corner of the end zone.

Denison's offense didn't share Kenyon's struggles. The Big Red ran for 289 yards and threw for 201 to post 490 yards of total offense on 77 plays. Starting quarterback Canaan Gebele went 11-of-16 for 136 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 88 yards and another touchdown.

The Big Red ground game was paced by Alex Minton, who covered 127 yards on just nine carries. He averaged 14.1 yards per carry and scored three times.

In the air, Gebele and two other Denison quarterbacks spread the ball around to 10 different receivers. Hunter Biddle, Seven Lindsey and David Carter each logged touchdown catches.

Denison scored 31 points in the first quarter and tacked on 21 more in the second to go into the break with an insurmountable 52-0 lead. The Big Red tacked on one more third-quarter touchdown and then benefited from a Kenyon bad snap, which resulted in a safety during the fourth quarter.

Back on Kenyon's side, Merkle capped off the season 270-for-467 with 2,389 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Robertson's 101 receptions went for 1,203 yards and five touchdowns.

The loss finalized Kenyon's records at 0-10 overall and 0-9 in North Coast Athletic Conference play. The win improved Denison's records to 8-2 overall and 8-1 in the NCAC.