DePauw Tigers good as Old Gold in win over Oberlin 45-11

DePauw senior Nikko Sansone attemps to hurdle a defender during a run in the second quarter on Saturday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

The standing-room crowd of alumni on hand for Old Gold Day was treated to the first win of the season for the DePauw University football team on Saturday.

The Tigers (1-4, 1-3) dismantled visiting Oberlin College in their convincing 45-11 victory.

Senior Barry Flynn had nine catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns, devastating the Yeomen's defense with his size and athleticism.

"I just thought we played really hard, and when you play with really good effort generally good things happen," DPU head coach Bill Lynch said. "I thought Barry Flynn was really good. He just made some plays on his own."

Flynn, 6-foot-5, caught several deep balls down the sideline where he easily leapt over the significantly smaller cornerbacks and provided a big target for over-the-shoulder fade routes in the end zone.

Freshman quarterback Matt Hunt played phenomenally, completing 13-of-18 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns (a 233.02 quarterback rating) and throwing precise, accurate balls deep down the sideline.

"We had some of those same (deep) throws at Denison last week but he overthrew it," Lynch said. "You give (Flynn) a chance and he'll make those plays."

Hunt took over as starting quarterback last week and has been a key for the Tigers as the team chases big plays and sustained drives.

Senior tight end Kevin Ude broke a tackle and raced down the sideline for a 71-yard gain, sophomore Connor Jeffers had a 66-yard touchdown and Flynn had catches of 38 and 35 yards as the Tigers' offense piled up 478 yards from scrimmage. DPU had just one three-and-out.

Since the first two weeks, scoring hasn't been an issue for the Tigers, but the defense has. That unit stepped up its play significantly on Saturday.

Senior linebacker Mitch Dwenger returned from an injury and led the team with 11 tackles and a sack and the team forced four turnovers (leading to 24 points), including two interceptions by junior Garrett Rice.

DPU has chased big plays on offense all year, but the defense provided some on Saturday as well. The unit allowed Oberlin inside its 20 just twice.

"Our defense played really well today," Lynch said. "That'll give us a little confidence because we've been giving up touchdowns (in the red zone)."

DePauw came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Freshman safety Cody Baker had an interception on Oberlin's first drive of the game, setting the Tigers up in promising field position. DPU cruised to a three-play, 40-yard drive capped by a 17-yard touchdown run from senior Nikko Sansone.

Sansone finished with 17 carries for 60 yards.

The Tigers gave up a field goal on the next drive and later set up Oberlin on first-and-goal from the 1, giving the Yeo a chance to take the lead late in the first quarter.

Including a penalty, the Tigers held for six straight plays before forcing an interception at the goal line.

"I thought we played some great red zone defense," Lynch said.

From there the Tigers took over, scoring on six of their next seven drives spanning into the fourth quarter.

The impressive showing was a nice sight for fans of DePauw football on an important day for the program.

Alumni are expected to return every year for Old Gold Day, DePauw's version of homecoming, but Saturday's game was made increasingly special because the new turf at Blackstock Stadium was officially dedicated to legendary former DPU head coach Nick Mourouzis.

Mourouzis coached the Tigers for 23 seasons and is the school's all-time leader in wins with 133. More than 200 guests, including 40 former captains, were on-hand to help with the dedication ceremony for Nick Mourouzis Field.

"It was good to get a win for Coach Nick," Lynch said. "For him, on this day, that's big."

The Tigers won't have long to celebrate as they travel to Ohio Wesleyan to take on the Battling Bishops (3-2, 2-2) next Saturday at 1 p.m.

DePauw defenders Adam Folta (7) and Hamm Hopper drag down Oberlin running back Blake Buckhannon in the backfield late in the first quarter. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

At DePauw
Oberlin............3........0.......8.......0 -- 11
DePauw.........7......21....14.......3 -- 45