For the third straight game the Oberlin football team scored first but was unable to come away with a victory, losing at Case Western Reserve University 45-19 on Saturday, Sept. 22. In their three losses this season the Yeomen have scored a total of 28 first-quarter points, but only 26 points in the remaining three quarters.
Despite big output from junior wide receiver Ricky Valenzuela, who had 203 receiving yards Saturday, and sophomore defensive back Quammie Semper, who had two interceptions, the offense had difficulty putting the ball in the end zone, while the defense had trouble making tackles.
The Yeomen got off to a promising start on the first drive of the game, when Semper picked off a Case Western pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown, giving the Yeomen a 7-0 lead. But Case came right back with a 52-yard drive which was capped by a field goal, and by 9:15 in the second quarter had scored 17 unanswered points.
The Yeomen responded with a 62-yard drive, with first-year running back Jim Cooper rushing for a touchdown on third and goal from the one, but it would be Oberlin’s only offensive touchdown of the game. By halftime the Yeomen trailed 24-13.
Case Western quickly took advantage of a Yeomen turnover at the beginning of the second half with a touchdown pass that made it 31-13 in their favor.
Sparked by a 34-yard kickoff return from first-year wide receiver Zach Lewis following the Case touchdown, the Yeomen offense drove from their own 47 as deep as the Case 12. First-year quarterback Ryan Squatrito made two key third-and-long passes to sophomore wide receiver Brandon Neely and first-year tight end Vinnie Hachigian to prolong the drive, but Oberlin was eventually forced to settle for a field goal.
In the following drive under Squatrito, the Yeomen drove 53 yards to the Case 27, but on second-and-three Squatrito couldn’t find an open receiver and had to run with the ball. He rushed four yards for a first down, but took a big hit and had to leave the game with an injured ankle.
Junior quarterback Chris Moffatt came in to replace him. Moffatt connected with Valenzuela for 20 yards and a first and goal from the 10. On second and goal from the 10, sophomore running back David Lightfoot appeared to have rushed for a touchdown, which would have put Oberlin within nine, but the play was negated by an Oberlin clipping penalty that cost the Yeomen 13 yards.
The Yeomen were called for nine penalties in the game, for a total of 73 yards, while Case received only one five-yard penalty.
After two consecutive incomplete passes by Moffat, first-year kicker Steve Willever had to come on again, and he successfully put the 40-yard field goal through.
Case followed with a 65-yard touchdown drive that effectively put the game out of reach. Case would add another touchdown, while their prevent defense held Oberlin scoreless for the fourth quarter.
“The only thing that the offense as a whole has to change to finish drives is our attitude,” Lewis said. “We have to go into the red zone with the attitude that no team can stop us.”
Lewis, who has two touchdowns on the season, was held without a reception against Case, a striking contrast to Valenzuela’s 12-catch day.
Valenzuela, however, set a career high with his 12 receptions, and his 486 receiving yards for the season leads the NCAC. He’s fourth overall in NCAA Division III with 162 receiving yards per game.
The Yeomen next play Saturday at home against Wabash, which will be their first conference game. Fortunately for Oberlin, Squatrito’s injury was not serious and he will be ready to play on Saturday.