HIRAM, Ohio -- Kenyon made an impressive second-half comeback for the third week in a row, overcoming a 17-7 deficit with four second-half touchdowns to hand Hiram College (1-6, 1-5 NCAC) a 34-31 defeat. The Owls outscored Hiram 20-0 in the third quarter before capping the win with a fourth-quarter comeback to improve to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference contest.

After the teams traded defensive stands for most of the first quarter, the Owls' usual aerial attack got going as Zachary Kim, last week's star and D3football.com Team of the Week honoree, picked up where he left off. After beating the Hiram defensive back down the left sideline, the sophomore reeled in a 45-yard bomb from senior quarterback Ryan O'Leary that put Kenyon up 7-0 with 55 seconds left in the opening period.

Kenyon nearly made it two touchdowns in a row on their next drive after a sack by Cole Garrison forced a three-and-out from the Terriers' offense. The Owls' touchdown hopes came up just short, however, after Jordon Benjamin lost a fumble just outside the goal line, giving the ball back to the home team instead of punching it in for a two-score lead.

Hiram wasted no time capitalizing on the untimely turnover. The Terriers flipped the script and, despite being backed up deep in their own territory, broke free on a run up the middle that went for a 97-yard touchdown. The long run from Malcom Rogers, the NCAC's leading per-game rusher with a 115.8 average coming into the game, tied the game at 7-7 at the 11:50 mark in the second quarter.

The game's next score also came on a Kenyon miscue after a three-and-out two drives later. Kenyon's Rocco Danese was back to punt inside the Owls' 20-yard line, but the Terriers broke through and blocked the punt before recovering the loose ball in the endzone for a go-ahead score.

The Owls' seemed to lose the momentum after another three-and-out on their next possession, but linebacker Jason Kessler made an incredible play to shut down a Hiram drive in Kenyon territory. The senior deflected a pass in the middle of the field before laying out to make a diving interception, putting the ball back in Kenyon's hands.

The Owls' offense could not capitalize on the turnover, narrowly missing converting a quarterback sneak on a fourth-and-two deep in Hiram territory. The turnover on downs allowed the Terriers to drive down the field and get within range for a last-second field goal. Hiram's kicker lined up for a long 40-yard attempt, and the kick had just enough behind it to put the home team ahead 17-7 at the half.

Kenyon turned things around in the third quarter with three unanswered touchdowns. Jack Provenza, a senior, punched in a two-yard rushing touchdown on the opening drive, and O'Leary and Kim connected for the second time on Kenyon's second drive of the half. The one-yard passing touchdown put Kenyon ahead 21-17, but the Owls made it three-for-three on touchdown drives after the defense made a big stop on a fourth-and-one. The duo of Kim and O'Leary kept it rolling with a third score, capping the third period with a 39-yard touchdown pass to go up 27-17 after a missed extra point.

The Terriers responded with a pair of early fourth-quarter touchdowns, finishing a 12-play, 69-yard drive with a passing score before taking advantage of good field position after a seven-yard punt. Hiram drove 35 yards, ending with a one-yard rush to go up 31-27 with 8:50 left to play.

No stranger to making impressive fourth-quarter comebacks in recent weeks, the Owls stayed calm and collected. O'Leary opened the ensuing drive with a 20-yard rush that set the tone for a seven-play, 75-yard drive. O'Leary finished the campaign with a 14-yard touchdown pass, his fourth of the game, finding senior Finn Murray to reclaim the lead, 34-31, with six minutes left.

The Owls stopped the Terriers after three plays, forcing Hiram to punt the ball and hope for a stop of their own. Kenyon dashed that hope, however, and did not give the ball back after converting on fourth down to clinch the three-point win.

Kenyon finished the game with a 510-389 edge in total yards, setting a new season-low in passing yards allowed with 178. The Owls held an impressive advantage in third-down situations, holding Hiram to 1-for-10 in conversion attempts while converting 11 of their 20 tries.

Next up is the final home game of Kenyon's 2022 campaign. The Owls host DePauw University (6-1, 4-1 NCAC) in Gambier at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. It will be a celebratory day on McBride Field as the team celebrates its Senior Day and Kenyon hosts a reunion for the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Football Team, the only undefeated team in Kenyon's storied history.