GAMBIER, Ohio -- A week after coming back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to earn a win, the Owls nearly conjured another unlikely come-from-behind victory against the College of Wooster (3-3, 2-3 NCAC). However, 28 unanswered points to tie the game and a potential game-tying or -winning score with seconds left were not enough as Kenyon fell 42-41 in the North Coast Athletic Conference contest.

The Fighting Scots and the Owls traded touchdowns in the first two drives. Wooster quarterback Mateo Renteria scrambled up the middle for a 42-yard score in the opening drive before Kenyon capped a nine-play drive with a 20-yard touchdown from Ryan O'Leary to Zachary Kim to knot the game at 7-7.

The early aerial score set the stage for a massive game from Kim as the sophomore finished with 17 catches for 197 yards and three touchdowns. The 17 grabs are tied for third-most all-time by a Kenyon receiver and just two away from the school record of 19. Kim's touchdowns were timely, as the wideout's three scores were of the game-tying variety.

Tying the game proved quite the feat for Kenyon as the Scots jumped out to a 35-7 lead with 6:32 on the clock in the second quarter. Big plays marred the Owls' defense as Wooster's first four scores went for 42, 35, 62, and 80 yards, respectively.

Through the first half, Wooster's Renteria was 12-15 with 284 passing yards and four touchdown passes while adding 64 yards and a score with his legs. Kenyon added to the yardage deficit by committing eight penalties for 85 yards in two quarters.

Despite the 28-point deficit and everything seeming to go Wooster's way, Kenyon chipped away before halftime after senior Jack Provenza scampered 44 yards for a touchdown. After stopping Wooster on a 4th-and-2, the Owls marched down the field and capped an 11-play drive with a touchdown pass to Joe Gorte, cutting Kenyon's deficit to 35-21 just before the end of the half.

The Owls kept their momentum rolling and scored the game's only third-quarter touchdown on the opening drive, making it a 21-point run after finding paydirt on consecutive possessions. O'Leary and the offensive line punched the ball in on a quarterback sneak from one yard out, and the 35-28 score persisted after two Wooster punts and an interception thrown by O'Leary.

The fourth quarter looked to be going the Owls' way after Kenyon scored on the first possession of the final frame, a six-yard touchdown pass from O'Leary to Kim that tied the game at 35 points apiece. Kenyon benefitted from a missed Wooster field goal on the next possession, but the Owls fumbled the ball away after earning enough yardage on a 4th-and-1 sneak on the ensuing drive.

After consecutive three-and-outs, the Fighting Scots cooked up another big play, going up 42-35 with 5:14 left after a 22-yard passing touchdown. The Owls' offense was stopped on fourth down, but the defense made a stop to get the ball back with just over one minute on the clock.

O'Leary connected on passes of 17, 17, and 16-yards on consecutive plays, with Gorte making an incredible play by catching a ball in midair that had been knocked out of his hands. After clocking the ball, O'Leary stepped up and found his favorite target, Kim, in the endzone for a 27-yard score with 17 seconds left. The Owls lined up to attempt a potentially game-winning two-point conversion, but a delay of game penalty and an unsportsmanlike conduct call pushed Kenyon 20 yards back and took the two-pointer out of play. Instead, Rocco Danese, who had been a perfect 5-5 on extra points, was forced to kick a 40-yard PAT to tie the game. The attempt sailed just wide to the left, cementing a 42-41 heartbreaking Owls loss and dropping Kenyon to a 2-4 (1-3 NCAC) record.

Kenyon looks to bounce back next weekend on Saturday, Oct. 22, on the road at Hiram College (1-5, 1-4 NCAC). The game is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Hiram, Ohio.