A former NFL head coach was fond of saying that you are what your record is. By that reckoning, the Oberlin Yeomen are an 0-4 team. But what the Yeomen are now isn’t as important as what they can be.
“We’re not quite where we want to get,” Head Coach Jeff Ramsey said, “but we’ve gotten better every game.”
The team that the Yeomen faithful are seeing this year isn’t the same as last year’s. Between first-years and transfers there are over 20 new faces this year, and these newcomers are contributing in big ways.
Nowhere is this contribution more apparent than on offense. The 2001 Yeomen have already accomplished more offensively than Oberlin did all of last year. Through four games they have scored 80 points and accumulated 1683 total yards, compared to 47 points and 1481 yards for the 10-game season last year. The Yeomen have scored first in three of their four games.
The passing game, led by a core of new players, has taken off. Averaging 309.5 yards a game, Oberlin is second in the conference and 13th in all of Division III in passing offense.
First-year starting quarterback Ryan Squatrito has led the offense, throwing for 660 yards in just nine quarters of play, for the fourth best yards per game average in the conference. Junior Chris Moffatt and first-year Jim Cooper have also seen action at quarterback, passing for a combined 578 yards.
The quarterbacks have had some excellent targets, as well. First-year wide receivers Scott Barker and Zach Lewis have 176 and 196 yards, respectively, and three touchdowns between them. First-year tight end Vinnie Hachigian and sophomore wide receiver Brandon Neely, though not putting up the big numbers, have come through on key plays, especially on third down. The Yeomen are 30 of 68 this year on third down, second best in the NCAC, and this has been a huge factor in their offensive success.
The target of choice for Yeomen quarterbacks this year, though, has been junior transfer Ricky Valenzuela. Valenzuela could easily be a story on his own. Arguably the best wide receiver in Division III, he leads the nation in receiving yards per with 181.2. Overall he has 725 yards and 5 touchdowns, and his 40 catches through four games make him second in the nation in receptions per game. He also set a new Oberlin record for receiving yards in a game with 239 against Wabash.
“I have never been in this kind of offense, in which I get chances to make big plays,” Valenzuela said. “It is great to own a record, but I hope to rewrite all the records for Oberlin and the league.”
The running game has also seen significant improvement over last year, averaging over 100 yards per game on the strength of first-years Chris Handley and Travis Oman and sophomore David Lightfoot. In 2000 Oberlin managed fewer than 40 yards a game rushing.
Perhaps overlooked among these numbers has been the kicking game. First-year Steve Willever is two for four in field goal attempts and eight out of 10 on PATs, providing some much needed consistency after Oberlin made only one extra point and no field goals last year.
Statistically, Oberlin’s defense has not performed as well as last year, surrendering an average of 38 points per game versus 30.1 last year. Missed tackles and opponents’ yards after contact have really hurt the Yeomen.
The defense showed significant improvement over last year’s in holding Pomona-Pitzer to 25 points. In both 1999 and 2000, Pomona scored over 50 points against Oberlin. Perhaps more telling of the defense’s character and ability was the turnaround against Wabash in their most recent game. After being hit for seven touchdowns in the first 30 minutes, the Yeomen came out in the second half and shut Wabash down for the rest of the game, allowing them just seven points.
Unlike the offense, the defense is led by a veteran core. Senior Team captain Sam Hobi is second in the conference in tackles and the obvious leader on the field defensively. Sophomore Quammie Semper is tied for the Division III lead in interceptions per game with four. And senior Tim Salazar has shown that no opposing extra point or field goal can be taken for granted, having blocked three.
The Yeomen will take that intensity to Hiram on Saturday. Hiram is 2-2 this year, but 0-2 in conference play. Last year Hiram just barely squeaked by the Yeomen, 9-8.
“We are excited to play Hiram,” Hobi said. “We can dominate this football game and bring home a win if we play aggressive, disciplined football.”

Barker echoed that sentiment. “That [first] win’s right around the corner. We just need to reach our potential. We need to gain some momentum and get some respect.”