Sansone sparks DePauw offense in 28-26 loss to Kenyon

GAMBIER, Ohio -- Senior Nikko Sansone rushed for a career-high 116 yards on 18 carries, had two catches for 65 yards and scored three total touchdowns for the DePauw football team on Saturday but it wasn't enough as the Tigers lost at Kenyon 28-26.

Freshman quarterback Matt Hunt tossed a two-yard scoring pass to senior Barry Flynn with 3:59 left in the game, but the Tigers' two-point conversion pass failed and Kenyon held on for the North Coast Athletic Conference victory.

DePauw dropped to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the NCAC, while the Lords improved to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

The Tigers did have one last chance, but Kenyon recovered a DePauw fumble near midfield with 1:39 left and was able to run out the clock and preserve the victory.

Kenyon never trailed in the contest, but the teams exchanged scores the entire game. The Lords struck first as Blake Calcei scored on a 9-yard pass from Jake Bates with 14:27 left in the second that capped a 14-play, 82-yard drive.

DePauw came right back as Nikko Sansone scored on a 53-yard pass play from Hunt on the third play of the next series.

Sophomore Justin Murray started the game at quarterback but played only a few possessions before Hunt took over.

In just his second game of action, Hunt finished 13-for-22 for 223 yards, two touchdowns and did not throw an interception. He also rushed six times for 34 yards.

Murray was three-for-four and had six carries for 19 yards.

Sansone scored the Tigers first three touchdowns, each in response to a score from the Lords, but a missed extra point attempt put DePauw behind par in the third quarter.

Flynn finished with six catches for 46 yards and now has 22 catches for 215 yards this year.