DPU football team pounds Hiram, 45-7

HIRAM -- DePauw improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference after a 45-7 win at Hiram. The Terriers slipped to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in NCAC play.

The Tigers totaled 523 yards of offense including 233 on the ground and 290 through the air, while holding the Terriers to just 242 total yards and 60 on the ground.

DePauw's defense forced a three-and-out on the first series of the game after Nate Orrison's sack and a short punt gave the Tigers the ball on Hiram's 25. DePauw needed just three plays to score as Matt Hunt connected with his brother, Andy, for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 12:24 left in the first.

Another defensive stand by the Tigers gave DePauw the ball on its own 30. Matt Hunt rushed for 54 yards on the second play of the series to move the ball into the Terriers' red zone. Four plays later Jack Gruber scored on a 5-yard run to push the lead to 14-0 with 7:43 left in the first.

Hiram's lone score of the game came on its first play of the next drive as Alec Wells connected with Josh Philander for a 73-yard score with 7:26 remaining in the quarter.

DePauw's Marko Adams booted a 32-yard field goal with 3:55 left in the opening stanza to push the lead to 17-7.

A 17-play drive capped by Jason Kirchhoff's 3-yard run with 1:44 left in the half gave DePauw a 24-7 lead.

The Tigers took the second-half kickoff and drove 65 yards in seven plays with Matt Hunt teaming with Jake Hagan for a 12-yard score.

Adam Folta's interception gave DePauw the ball on its own 31 and the Tigers needed just eight plays before Matt Hunt and Tyler Leising teamed for a 4-yard scoring pass. Matt Hunt tossed a 7-yard scoring pass to Joe Buckley late in the third to round out the scoring.

Matt Hunt completed 19-of-28 passes for 257 yards with four touchdowns and his first interception of the season. Connor Jeffers, Hagan and Leising each caught four passes with Jeffers totaling a team-best 89 receiving yards. Hunt rushed for 85 yards on eight carries.

Wells paced Hiram with 16-of-29 passing for 169 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Jaylen Dinard and Nate Eaton each caught four passes, while Danny Robinson rushed for 31 yards.

Will Longthorne paced DePauw's defense with 11 tackles, while D.D. Fleeton led Hiram with 13.

The Tigers possessed the ball for 41:19 and converted 16-of-23 third down situations.

DePauw travels to Kenyon next Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest.