Parker sets passing records in defeat

It was James Parker's day. The quarterback senior dominated a Kenyon College defense that has treated him like a personal tackling dummy throughout his Oberlin career.

In Parker's first season, the Lords set a conference record for sacks in a game at Parker's expense. On Saturday Parker entered the North Coast Athletic Conference record book at Kenyon's expense. His response: "It felt good to stick it to them."

Parker's forty completions broke the conference record. Parker amassed 315 yards to set Oberlin records for yards passing in a game and for yards passing in a career, at 3623.

His four touchdown passes tied the school record. But Parker's heroics were all for naught as the Lords were also dynamite on offense and overwhelmed the Yeomen 53-35.

It was obvious from the start that this game would be a shoot out.

The Oberlin defense was struggling to contain the Kenyon running game, which rushed for a school record 324 yards, as much as the Kenyon defense struggled with the Oberlin offense.

Kenyon has one of the best offensive lines in the conference, and on paper it looked like the Yeomen were overmatched.

But Head Coach Pete Peterson would offer no excuses, and was not satisfied with his defensive players efforts. "Each player needs to make it personally important to him to do a good job," he said. "These fellows are talented players. They have to decide whether they are going to play up to their talent level, or whether they are going to continue to play mediocre team defense."

Another key to the Yeomen's downfall was their special teams. Kenyon's average field position after punts or kickoffs was their own 47 yard line.

Add in a fumbled punt by Oberlin and that marker becomes the Oberlin 49. Peterson was unhappy with this as well.

"Any time you have a potent offense you are not out of very many games," he said. "It comes down to the kicking game and the defense stepping up a little more. Stop the running game once in a while. Hit somebody once in a while."

Oberlin trailed 14-0 before the offense began to catch fire. The return of wide receiver junior Felix Brooks-Church was welcome and his impact was rapidly felt as he elevated himself above and beyond the Kenyon defender to catch his second ball of the season late in the first quarter.

Two plays later Brooks-Church caught a bullet from a scrambling Parker in the end zone and the shootout was on. The two teams traded scores until the end of the half, when Kenyon took advantage of a blocked punt and scored to lead 35-14. This made Parker's day all the tougher. "It would have been more fun if we hadn't been playing catch-up," he said. "We've got so much talent we should be able to score on anybody."

The Yeomen scored on their first possession of the second half, marching 80 yards in fourteen impressive plays to close to within 35-21. But that was the closest they would get. After stopping Kenyon on their next offensive series, the Yeomen fumbled the ensuing punt and the Lords converted a field goal that put the game just out of reach.

After a fake punt failed at the end of the third quarter, it took Kenyon only three runs, one a 42 yarder, to slam the door on the Yeomen at 46-21.

Nonetheless, the splendid play of the offense was a highlight of this game. After all it had been eight years since the Yeomen had put up as many as 35 points.

Parker and Peterson were quick to give much of the credit to the offensive line. "You throw the ball 55 times and get sacked only twice is pretty good no matter what league you're in," the coach said.

"My linemen kept me in a groove. They picked up the blitz as well as I was reading it, and they put me at ease. The receivers made some pretty good catches as well," said Parker.

Junior Anthony Johnson had twelve receptions for 138 yards, his third straight 100-yard game, to continue to lead the conference in receptions and yards.

Brooks-Church caught 13 passes, the most by a single player in a game all year.

Parker leads the conference in yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns.

All of this, added to an experienced offensive line and that talented defense will be necessary as the Yeomen prepare for their game against Wittenberg on Oct. 4th.

The Tigers lead the conference after handling defending champion Allegheny College this past weekend.

Still, as strange as it may sound, the Yeomen love playing the big boys. "

I'd rather play the best," Brooks-Church said. "If we put up those numbers offensively against Wittenberg we know we are a decent team. I am very confident."