GAMBIER, Ohio – Another strong defensive effort paired with some timely second-half offensive plays helped Kenyon College (2-2, 1-2 NCAC) defeat Hiram College 15-12 on Saturday in North Coast Athletic Conference action at McBride Field.
 
The home win was Kenyon's first since September 24, 2016 against Allegheny College.
 
In the first, both teams moved the ball pretty well. The Lords' first two drives crossed into Terriers territory, however, they were unable to tally any points. Hiram's opening possession got to the Kenyon 49-yard line, but its third-down play saw Adam Pollock sack quarterback Collin McNamara.
 
Then with less than two minutes left, the Kenyon defense came up with a Jack Sherritt interception at the Hiram 25. Despite that, the visitors kept the Lords off the scoreboard after breaking up a fourth-down pass near the right pylon.
 
Following the scoreless first period, Hiram used a seven-minute-plus drive to get the first lead of the game. Grayson Lawrence punted to the Terriers' 15-yard line and the visitors followed with an 85-yard drive over 14 plays. Eight plays in, Hiram faced a 3rd-and-seven from the Kenyon 45 and Rodney Myers completed a 20-yard pass to Jaris Foreman to move the chains. A few plays later, Myers connected with Tahj Northridge from five yards out to give Hiram a 6-0 lead.
 
Kenyon closed the half with another good drive, but a dropped pass on fourth down at Hiram's 22-yard line ended any scoring chance.


 
After halftime, the Lords put together two touchdown drives in the third. On the team's second possession of the quarter, Thomas Merkle found Andrew Schnarre on 3rd-and-12 for a 32-yard pass completion to Hiram's 30-yard line. Four plays later on fourth down, the same duo hooked up again, this time for a 26-yard touchdown. Following Ryan Cooper's extra point, the Lords led 7-6 with about six minutes to go in the period.
 
The Lords' defense stepped up to the plate on the next possession, forcing a three-and-out. On the ensuing punt from Alex Warren-Green, Schnarre blocked it, giving Kenyon the ball at the visitor's 29-yard line. That momentum carried over as Merkle scored a one-yard keeper on 3rd-and-goal seven plays later. For good measure, defensive lineman Trevor Brown caught a two-point conversion from Gage Anzulavich to push the score to 15-6.
 
In the fourth, Hiram did cut into the deficit with a Bryson Butler six-yard touchdown run with 9:37 left. However, that would be the closest (15-12) the Terriers got the rest of the game.
 
By contest's end, Kenyon had held Hiram to 223 yards of total offense, forced seven punts, collected five sacks and notched an interception. Sam Dickey tallied 10 tackles including two for loss while Ryan Mott added nine stops. Offensively, Schnarre hauled in five catches for 83 yards while running back Jimmy Andrews rushed 18 times for 84 yards, a 4.7 average.
 
Next Saturday, the Lords will travel to Oberlin College for a 3 p.m. NCAC contest.