GAMBIER, Ohio – DePauw University's (1-1, 1-0 NCAC) defense kept the Kenyon College offense in check for most of the game as the Tigers earned a 21-7 North Coast Athletic Conference victory at McBride Field on Saturday. The Lords moved their record to 1-2 and 0-2 in the league by contest's end.
 
Outside of a late first-half drive by Kenyon, the Tigers defense on four other Lords possessions did not allow any more than 18 yards. In that time, DePauw attained a 14-0 advantage.
 
Early on, DePauw got a pair of turnovers from Kenyon's special teams but two missed field goals kept the scoreboard empty until the Tigers' fourth possession. An eight-play, 55-yard drive that was run-heavy ended as Noah Jones scored from three yards out with 2:21 on the first-quarter clock.
 
The Tigers forced a three-and-out on Kenyon's next possession and responded by taking a 14-0 lead. A 15-yard touchdown pass from Chase Andries to Will Harris capped off a five-play, 51-yard drive.
 
Needing some momentum, the Lords got it on their next possession. After starting on the nine-yard line following a mishandled kickoff, the Lords drove all the way down to DePauw's 26-yard line. During that drive, Thomas Merkle and Andris Balodis connected for three passes for 42 yards. However, once Kenyon reached the Tigers' 26, four-straight incompletions turned the ball over on downs for the home squad.
 
In the third quarter, Kenyon's defense held strong. On three possessions, the Tigers never reached Kenyon territory. However, the Lords' offense could not get in rhythm. Their best drive came with 8:15 left in the period as the Lords went 10 plays for 46 yards before turning the ball over on downs at DePauw's 25-yard line.
 
Early in the fourth, Kenyon's defense forced a turnover that led to the only scoring drive. As Andries rolled left, his pass was deflected by Tom Zaleski and intercepted by Trevor Brown at the Tigers' 39-yard line. Eight plays later, Merkle hit running back Jimmy Andrews for a 20-yard score to bring the tally to 14-7 following Ryan Cooper's extra point.
 
The Lords' had one more possession at the 8:31 mark, but a Joe Zanca sack of Merkle on third down followed by a blocked punt gave DePauw great field position at the Kenyon 35. The visitors followed with a game-clinching, seven-play drive which ended with a James Deaton eight-yard touchdown catch.
 
Merkle ended up with 261 yards passing and a touchdown while Balodis hauled in six catches for 94 yards. Defensively, Sam Dickey led with nine tackles and a sack while Michael Picone added seven tackles and two quarterback hurries. As a whole, Kenyon's defense was outstanding holding DePauw to just 212 total yards and a 2.4 yards-per-carry average.
 
Next Saturday, the Lords will host Hiram College at 12 p.m. in another NCAC contest.