GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Denison football team got back on track Saturday, coming from behind to defeat the Kenyon College Owls 21-14. The Big Red scored 15 points in the third quarter to overtake the Owls, as the win improves them to 5-2 overall on the season and 5-1 in the NCAC.
Coming off a forgetful effort in its last game, the Denison defense made a strong statement to open the game, forcing a quick three-and-out of Kenyon. The offense started inside its 25 after the punt and managed to methodically move the ball downfield, but a 17-play drive stalled out and ended with a missed field goal, allowing Kenyon to throw a counter.
The Owls responded to the missed field goal with a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, getting a 42-yard pass play to set up a touchdown and the first points of the game with 42 seconds remaining in the opening stanza. A short kickoff allowed Denison to set the offense in prime position, and a big play from
Kade Koroneos of 34 yards on a swing pass sparked the Big Red moments into the second quarter. One play after the big catch-and-run, Koroneos capped the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown, getting the Big Red on the board.
Sean Brechbill's point-after-try was blocked, and the score stood at 7-6 in favor of Kenyon 53 seconds into the second quarter.
The defense matched the offense's efforts and forced an immediate three-and-out, but the offense couldn't capitalize on the momentum, as Brain Rager was strip-sacked and ended a promising series, as the runback and a penalty set Kenyon up just outside the red zone. Six plays later, the Owls reached the end zone, doubling the lead as Drew Morgan tossed his second touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-6.
Denison would get their hands on the ball twice before halftime, but were unable to move the ball downfield as sacks and fumbles stalled each series, leaving the Big Red trailing 14-6 at intermission.
The Big Red offense got the ball to start the second half, and after a positive return and penalty against Kenyon, the attack began with a slew of
Brian Rager passes, as the quarterback converted a fourth down conversion to
AJ Winders to spark the sideline. Multiple
Blayton Reid runs marched the Big Red into the red zone, and on the drive's 10th play, the quarterback dove across the goal line from two yards out, bringing the home team within two points. Denison went for two immediately after the touchdown, and Rager hit
Grayson Kerscher out of the backfield for a successful try, tying the game 14-14.
With the score tied, the defense continued their strong play and forced a quick three-and-out as
Drew Duffy and
Colton Morrow stuffed a third-down run, and in response, the offense needed just six plays to take its first lead. Facing a fourth and three from the Kenyon 31, Denison went for it, and Rager connected with Winders for 31 yards, as the receiver made a pair of men miss after catching the contested pass, racing the final 20 yards to the end zone for the go-ahead score.
Sean Brechbill's extra point was good, putting Denison on top 21-14.
Playing with a lead for the first time fueled the defense, as they again forced a quick three-and-out, bringing the punt team out after denying another short third-down run. The offense would possess the ball for the final 3:48 of the third quarter and carried the 21-14 lead into the fourth, but were unable to add to the lead as they turned the ball over on downs.
Playing with a seven-point cushion, Denison relied on the defense to make the necessary stops, and they did just that as Kenyon again went three-and-out. The Owls would get the ball back after a Denison punt with 8:46, and despite gaining a first down, Kenyon again punted, as
Nick Pellicciotta came up with a key third- sack, bringing out the kicking team.
With 5:31 to play, Denison relied on the ground game to seal the win, and watched
Blayton Reid rip multiple big runs, as the senior had five consecutive plays of four or more yards, with a pair of 10-plus runs moving the ball to the midfield line at the two-minute timeout. Two plays after the timeout,
Brian Rager put the game on ice, picking up 12 yards on the ground to get the game-sealing first down, allowing Denison to escape with a 21-14 victory.
The defense played sound on Saturday, holding Kenyon to 151 yards while the offense doubled the Owls, as Denison gained over 330 yards as a team.
Brian Rager passed for 217 yards and ran for 56 more, scoring a passing and rushing touchdown for the fourth time this season.
Blayton Reid finished with 77 yards on the ground, and Koroneos finished the day with 63 offensive yards, finding the end zone on a rushing touchdown.
Grayson Kerscher led the receivers with 72 yards on 10 receptions, scoring a two-point conversion, and
AJ Winders had 56 yards and a score on five catches.
Rory Ralston led the defense with eight total tackles, while Morrow finished with five. Pellicciotta had a sack in his four-tackle game, and
Fin O'Brien had a pass breakup.
UP NEXT: Denison will travel to current No. 7 WashU to match up with the Bears for the first time since 2012. Kickoff is slated for 2:00 p.m. ET in St. Louis.
