GAMBIER, Ohio – Kenyon College trailed by three heading to the fourth before Oberlin College scored the next 15 points en route to a 35-24 win on a rain-filled day at McBride Field.
 
Oberlin's offensive performance was very balanced. Running back Chuck Williams carried 38 times for 151 yards while quarterback Zach Taylor threw for 220 yards and four touchdowns along with 115 yards rushing and a touchdown. As a team, the Yeomen ran 97 plays for 511 yards including 291 on the ground.
 
For Kenyon (0-2, 0-1 NCAC), Thomas Merkle went 39-of-69 for 392 yards and three scores. His passes attempted broke the previous school record of 68 set by Tony Miga in 2001 versus Thiel College. Additionally, his 39 completed passes were the third-best single-game mark and his 392 yards were the fifth-best mark.
 
Ian Robertson and Justin Bosch were Merkle's main targets. Robertson caught 15 passes, which tied for the fifth-best single-game performance in Lords history, for 194 yards and a score while Bosch hauled in nine for 92 yards.
 
Defensively, Sam Dickey and Tom Zaleski led the Lords with 15 tackles each.
 
After each team had a possession to start the game, the Yeomen's second drive resulted in a touchdown and 7-0 advantage. A seven-play, 55-yard drive was capped off after Taylor found Jabari Clemons in the corner of the end zone on a 15-yard pass.
 
Kenyon got into enemy territory on its next possession but a fourth-down stop by Oberlin (1-1, 1-0 NCAC) ended that drive.
 
On the ensuing possession, the Yeomen drove 65 yards in 13 plays and pushed their lead to 14-0 after a Miles Temoney four-yard grab. Now down two scores, the Lords started to fight back.
 
A Ryan Cooper 30-yard field goal brought the count to 14-3 with about nine minutes left in the second. Oberlin followed with another touchdown drive to go up 20-3, however, Kenyon responded again to cut the deficit to 10. A four-play series ended when Merkle rolled left and fired back right to a wide open Rob Meagher who scored from 16 yards out.
 
Down 20-10, Kenyon inched closer, about six minutes into the third quarter. A seven-play, 59-yard drive, which saw Meagher convert a fourth-down opportunity, ended when Merkle hit Robertson in stride for a 38-yard strike.
 
The Lords had three more possessions the rest of the third, and one early in the fourth, to either tie or take the lead.  However, they failed to get points and the 20-17 count remained.
 
After keeping the Lords' offense at bay for four straight possessions, Oberlin's first touchdown drive in the second half came following an eight-play, 71-yard drive. Williams rushed for an 11-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion followed to push the count to 28-17.
 
Kenyon got into Oberlin territory again on its next drive, but an incomplete pass on fourth down ended another potential scoring drive. The visitors then closed the door on Kenyon during its next possession with a 73-yard drive highlighted by a 46-yard scoring grab by Clemons.
 
Next week, the Lords welcome Wabash College for a 2 p.m. NCAC contest during Homecoming Week.