The unthinkable became reality when defensive tackle sophomore Sean Nagle caught Thiel College quarterback Mike Winslow from behind for a sack. At that moment Oberlin retook possession and there was nothing to stop them from running off the final forty seconds and ending one of the most heart-wrenching episodes that football has ever seen. "Oberlin 18, Thiel 17" does not fully capture the moment, the feeling, that occurred on that glorious football Saturday a week ago.
Forty games in a row is a lot to lose, and it is even more of a burden to shoulder. First-year wide receiver John Singleton, who caught the winning touchdown pass and two-point conversion was playing his first Oberlin game, yet he wept in jubilation as he and the hundreds of fans stormed the field after the victory. Of course, Head Coach Pete Peterson can always be counted on to underscore the moment. When asked how it felt to win his first game he said, "One and twenty-nine sure beats oh and thirty."
To fully understand the magnitude of this victory is to understand the pain and humiliation that preceded it. This club failed to score once in 1994. This defense, who held Thiel to 266 yards and forced two key turnovers in the second half, also gave up 12 touchdowns to Allegheny in 1994.
In 1995, the team was featured in Sports Illustrated. In 1992, ESPN called them the "worst football team in America." Recent history has been unkind to Oberlin football. This team has only 27 players, and that those 27 defeated 93 is incredible in itself. In every game this season the opponent will have at least twice as many players as the Yeomen, but Oberlin proved on Saturday that courage, heart, and persistence can overcome depth on a roster.
No player played harder than running back senior Brian Salter. Salter's 122 yards rushing were the most by an Oberlin back in five years, and were almost three times as many as he rushed for all last season. With wide receiver junior Felix Brooks-Church (who led the conference with 76 receptions last year) out of the game with an injured hamstring, Salter's importance to the offense increased. He was able to shoulder the load. On the very first possession, Salter picked up and converted a crucial fourth down. Oberlin would take a 7-0 lead moments later on an eight yard pass from quarterback senior James Parker to first-year Jesse Creator.
All day, Salter's running prevented Thiel from completely shutting down the Oberlin offense. Salter was quick to downplay his role in the victory, saying, "Once our number one weapon (Brooks-Church) went down we realized that our total offense was our number one weapon."
But Pete Peterson portrayed Salter in the right light, saying, "Brian is our emotional leader, he's the guy that gets our huddles fired up, he's a tremendous football player and he had a great game today."
After the first score, the Yeomen caught a huge break when the snap to Thiel punter Chris Anthony soared over his head and he was tackled at his own 15-yard line by cornerback junior Sean Wesolowski. "To tell you the truth, I was real scared, but I did what I was coached to do," Wesolowski said.
The Yeomen scored a field goal moments later and had a surprising 10-0 lead. This was a tremendous psychological lift. Those first twelve minutes were the fuel that fed the fire that stoked the Yeomen. They knew that they could win. But Thiel got back into the game in the second quarter on a 44-yard touchdown pass and then kicked a field goal late in the half to tie the contest. Still, it had been five years since the Yeomen had been this close at the half, and they all felt that the moment was there for them.
Safety senior Jason Quinn intercepted Winslow in the third, preventing the Tomcats from gaining momentum. But Thiel took the lead, 17-10, for the first time early in the fourth. At this moment Oberlin teams of the past would have rolled over. Captain offensive linesman junior Chris Davis knew that this team was different even when the Yeomen trailed. "Our guys wouldn't give up," he said with a smile.
Wesolowski summed it up saying, "When it counted we put more on the line than they did."
This became apparent when Oberlin recovered a fumbled snap by Thiel and were given a breath of life with 11:29 to go in the fourth. Minutes later came the play that Salter would remember as the biggest of the ballgame.
Facing a second and eleven at the Thiel 32-yard line, Parker dropped back and lofted a high spiral in the direction of junior wide receiver Anthony Johnson. As Parker was planted roughly into the Dill Field turf, Johnson lept over the Thiel defensive back and pulled in the pass at the five yard line. As Salter helped Parker up he said to him, "You are a bad boy! That was amazing!"
On the next play Parker hit Singleton for a touchdown to bring the squad within one and then Peterson made the call to go for two. The Yeomen knew they would not be stopped. Athletic Director Don Hunsinger, who was shaking with tension on the sideline, surmised, "They couldn't cover Singleton on the touchdown, and he was wide open on the conversion."
Pass good. Oberlin 18 Thiel 17.
The next 9:25 would be the toughest that any of the Yeomen had encountered in their college careers. Davis could hardly stand it. "I just hoped the minutes would pass by," he said. Salter says that in retrospect it was great, but next time he hopes for a blow out.
For Davis, it was all made bearable because the crowd was so loud. "You may not think we can hear you but we can. It's really important."
"It's been a long time since we've had a roar like that at this stadium," Peterson said. Yet it was this football team, this undermanned squad of 27 men that gave the crowd something to cheer about. As the clock ticked down Oberlin mounted another drive that looked like it would bring forth more points. But Parker took a vicious hit on third and seven that would have him breathing gingerly after the game, and the team was unable to score. That left Thiel with one more chance. 2:35 remained.
Thiel quickly advanced eleven yards. But then the Oberlin defense held them, and the stage was set for Nagle's game-winning tackle. It was only fitting that the defensive line, Oberlin's weakest link over the past few years, would culminate this game in which they had played fabulous, gutsy football with such a memorable play. Kocher, Levine, Johnson, and Nagle had played brilliantly all day, and this moment was theirs.
Davis lept for joy on the sideline. Felix Brooks-Church hobbled in ecstasy. Parker grinned and put on his helmet as he took the field like a Roman conqueror. The entire stadium screamed a sigh of relief. The Yeomen had won a football game. The seconds ticked off the clock. With thirteen seconds to go, Parker raised his arms in a victory salute and walked off the field. Nothing could stop the Yeomen this time.
The crowd stormed the field. Peterson was lifted on the shoulders of his players. Everybody soaked up the moment. Davis says that people have been stopping him on the street all week. Parker finally gets to bask in some glory. Everybody holds their head high.
After the game, Peterson was more reserved than he needed to be. "We knew if we played good, disciplined assignment defense we'd have a chance to win," he said. "Our players came out and made plays. It was a dogfight down to the end. It feels pretty good."
The forty game monster can retreat into history. The Oberlin Yeomen are undefeated at 1-0.
Bring'em down: Sophomore Rick Kocher stops a Thiel Tomcat. Oberlin clawed their way to the win, settling the matter with a successful two point conversion. (photo by Laren Rusin)
Copyright © 1997, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 126, Number 2, September 12, 1997
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