Hands off: A Rose-Hulman player protects the ball as he drives past Oberlin first-year defensive back, Mason Turville.

Saturday proved to be a long day for the Oberlin Yeomen. Dill Field hosted a collision between the Yeomen and the Rose-Hulman Fightin’ Engineers. Unfortunately, the Yeomen took the brunt of the clash in a 40-14 loss.

The first quarter cost the Yeomen. The Fightin’ Engineers utilized eight plays to drive 63 yards in their first offensive sequence of the game, resulting in an immediate 7-0 lead.

Oberlin took control of the ball, but the control was to be short-lived. On second and 10, senior quarterback Ryan Squatrito threw the first of five interceptions on the day, allowing Rose-Hulman to take possession and score two plays later.

With the first quarter clock winding down and with a score of 14-0, Rose-Hulman converted once again. With one second left on the clock, two defensive penalties marched the Fightin’ Engineers 28 yards up the field to the Oberlin 21-yard line. A final play saw a Rose-Hulman rush result in another first quarter touchdown, leaving the score at 21-0.

The Yeomen, however, struck back in the second quarter for one of the few Oberlin high points of the game. Sophomore Rose-Hulman quarterback Cameron Hummel threw an interception of his own when sophomore Yeomen linebacker Andy Estep snagged a pick and returned it for a 27 yard touchdown run.

With the score 21-7, the Fightin’ Engineers widened the gap once again, completing a 4:39 drive ending in a touchdown. However, Rose-Hulman’s kicker could not find the uprights for the extra point and the half ended Rose-Hulman 27, Oberlin 7.

Like the first, the second half began with another first possession Rose-Hulman touchdown, widening the gap to 34-17. Later in the third quarter, the Fightin’ Engineers scored again on yet another interception, but they continued to be plagued by kicking mishaps. Due to the missed extra point, the score after three quarters of play was 40-7.

On their first possession of the fourth quarter, Oberlin answered Rose-Hulmans’ scoring drives with one of their own. After a 58 yard, nine play push, junior Travis Oman dove into the endzone and finished the scoring for the game.

Last season the Yeomen followed a similar trend, losing their first three games, which were all non-conference. They went on to win their next three games over Hiram College, the College of Wooster and Kenyon College, all NCAC teams.The Yeomen finished the season in a three-way tie for second place with a 4-2 NCAC record.

With the 40-14 loss, Oberlin drops to 0-3 on the season, but looks to start conference play on the road against Kenyon College next Saturday at 1 p.m.