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By Mary Annaise Heglar

Last Saturday the Oberlin College football team surrendered their three-game winning streak to Wabash College, as the Little Giants’ offense proved too much for the Yeomen in a 38-6 victory.

The defeat dropped Oberlin to fourth place in the NCAC at 2-1, 3-4 overall. Wabash climbed to 3-1 in the conference, tying for second with Wittenberg University.

“The loss was very disappointing,” first-year Fadil Bayarri said. “It was the first time we had lost in a while and the first NCAC game all season.”

The Yeomen were riding a three-game win streak, their first since 1974.

Given that two of the games were against other NCAC teams, prior to the Wabash loss, the Yeomen were undefeated in the conference. The Oct. 11 victory against The College of Wooster, a nationally ranked team, was especially satisfying for the Yeomen.

But the hopes of keeping that streak going for the remainder of the season were dashed after Oberlin faced Wabash last weekend.

The game started off fairly evenly. Wabash was first to decorate the scoreboard on a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown in the middle of the first quarter.

The Yeomen were three and out on the ensuing possession. However, following a 41-yard punt by Ryan Drews, the Oberlin defense went into action.

Senior Jesus Juarez made a tackle for a loss of one. After that, on second and eleven, senior Quammie Semper intercepted a pass and returned the pick nine yards to the Wabash 21.

The turnover put the Yeomen offense into prime scoring position. Drews kicked a 33-yard field goal to put Oberlin onto the board, cutting Wabash’s lead down to 7-3.

Another Little Giant turnover led to Oberlin’s second and final score. Junior Vinnie Hachigian recovered a Wabash fumble on the 39.

Within seven plays, the Yeomen had turned the recovery into three more points as Drews kicked a 24-yard field goal, narrowing the score to 7-6.

The second quarter was uneventful, until the last five seconds of the half. The Little Giants secured a touchdown on an 18-yard pass and went into the locker room with a 14-6 lead.

The second half of the game did not go in the Yeomen’s favor. The Little Giants scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter, raising the score to 26-6 midway through the quarter.

The only Oberlin venture into Wabash territory came to an end when senior quarterback Ryan Squatrito was intercepted at the goal line from the Wabash 19.

“We didn’t move the ball offensively very well,” head coach Jeff Ramsey said. “Defensively, we played pretty well. We just made some mistakes that come from being on the field too long and, although they were not big mistakes, they were mistakes that a team like Wabash would take advantage of.”

Wabash wrapped up the victory in the fourth quarter with another touchdown, putting the final tally at 38-6.

In total, Wabash racked up 405 yards of offense (201 rushing and 204 passing) while Oberlin managed only 71 yards (87 passing and -16 rushing) on 60 plays. The Yeomen converted one of 17 third-down situations, compared to 6 of 18 for Wabash.

Semper, now the Division III leader in interceptions, grabbed his eighth pick, putting him one shy of the NCAC season interception spot.

The Yeomen take to the field once again tomorrow at 1 p.m. to challenge Earlham College (0-3 NCAC, 1-6 overall). It will be their last home game of the season.

Earlham has won 12 of 13 contests against Oberlin since the Quakers joined the NCAC in 1989.

“I think our guys have learned quite a bit about bouncing back,” Ramsey said. “We do a pretty good job of doing those things. I’m confident that we will resume our status at the top of the conference.”