Tigers' football team moves to 7-2 with conference win over Hiram on Saturday

Amen Galley sizes up the defense after catching a screen pass. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The Tiger football team scored on its first five offensive possessions Saturday and then added a defensive score in jumping out to a 38-3 first-half lead on the way to a 45-12 North Coast Athletic Conference win over visiting Hiram.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in the NCAC, while the Terriers dropped to 45- overall and 3-5 in the conference.

DePauw's Amen Galley (28) lowers his shoulder and plows through a Hiram defender in an effort to gain extra yardage. Galley had 69 yards receiving as well as a touchdown reception. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

DePauw took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 13 plays with quarterback Matt Hunt teaming with Jay D. Robinson on a 3-yard pass on third down with 9:46 left in the quarter. The Tigers converted three third-down situations on the drive.

Hiram drove to the DePauw 10 on its opening series, but sacks by Michael Mitsch and Craig Neece backed them up the the 21 and Greg Klisuric came on to boot a 38-yard field goal.

The Tigers quickly made it 14-3 as Connor Jeffers gained 16 yards on the first play of the next drive and Amen Galley followed with 12 on the next. Hunt then connected with Galley for a 43-yard score. Marko Adams booted the extra point with 3:13 remaining in the quarter and, in the process, broke the DePauw single-season record for points by kicking with his 66th. Tom Downhan held the record from 1986.

DePauw quarterback Matt Hunt scans the defensive backfield before unloading a touchdown pass. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

After DePauw's defense forced a three-and-out, the offense once again used 13 plays and drove 60 yards with Hunt tossing a 21-yard strike to Robinson to make it 21-3 with 12:14 left in the half.

Adams added a 43-yard field goal at the 7:12 mark and the DePauw defense came up big again on Hiram's next possession. Faced with a third-and-3 from his own 29, Hiram quarterback Robert Partridge was hit by Thomas Gray while attempting to throw. The ball sailed high in the air and DePauw nose guard Peter Nelson picked it off at the Hiram 28.

Hunt then hit Jeffers with a 28-yard scoring pass on the next play to push the lead to 31-3.

Jake Hagan (7) catches a 39-yard pass during the third quarter of the DePauw win over Hiram. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Later in the half, Gray intercepted Partridge at the Hiram 18 and took it to the end zone for the score marking DePauw's second straight game with a pick six.

Klisuric nailed a 23-yard field goal with 7:38 left in the third before Hunt teamed with Jake Hagan for a 39-yard score with 1:14 remaining in the quarter which made it 45-6.

Hiram's lone touchdown came early in the fourth after Kyle Burchett intercepted DePauw's Ian Good and, four plays later, Alec Wells scored on a 1-yard run.

DePauw outgained Hiram, 441-227, and led in first downs, 21-14. Hunt completed 14 of 25 passes for 235 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Hagan hauled in five for 73 yards with Robinson catching four for 59 and Galley three for 69. Galley added 52 rushing yards with Hunt picking up 48.

Wells paced Hiram with 43 rushing yards and came off the bench to complete 6 of 18 passes for 79 yards. Partridge was 4 of 13 for 29 yards and two interceptions. Britton Lewis led the way with four catches for 38 yards.

Gray led DePauw's defense with seven tackles including a team-high three for losses totaling five yards along with an interception, pass break up and three hurries. Clark Costello and Philip Ganser followed with five tackles apiece.

Zach Bennett had eight tackles to lead Hiram with Burchett and Andrew Torres following with seven each. Burchett had two for loss and one interception.

DePauw returns to action next Saturday, November 15, when it travels to Crawforsville for the Monon Bell game. Kickoff at Hollett Little Giant Stadium is set for 1:07 p.m.