DePauw’s seniors stepped onto the turf at Black Stock stadium for the last time this Saturday and, along with their teammates, delivered a blow out win against the Hiram College Terriers.
WGRE Announcer Robert Sherman said, “Hiram really concerned me coming in. I thought we might have a repeat of the OWU game, where DePauw got caught looking down their schedule and let the weaker teams get the best of them.”
Clearly, however, the Tigers were up to the challenge.
“That was not the case at all,” Sherman said.
J.D. Robinson, senior, runs under a pass from sophomore quarterback
Matt Hunt, scoring a touchdown in Saturday's 45-12 win over Hiram.
CHRISTA SCHROEDEL / THE DEPAUW
DePauw scored on their first five offensive possessions in the game to jump to a 38-3 first half lead.
“Our offense has been clicking very well recently,” first-year receiver Jake Hagan.
said. “Everyone understands his roles better and it seems we're just hitting everything in stride at the right time now.”
They received the ball off the opening kickoff and sophomore quarterback Matt Hunt lead the team 75 yards down the field, converting three third-downs.
“It all started up front,” Hunt said. “They had a talented defensive line, and we blocked them tremendously. When we get time to throw and open holes in the run game we are dangerous offensively.”
Hunt proved that, connecting with senior J.D. Robinson for the first touchdown of the game.
“We executed very well [against Hiram],” head coach Bill Lynch said.
Power sacks by both sophomore Michael Mitsch and senior Craig Neece on Hiram’s opening drive set the tone for the defensive dominance that would continue throughout the game, holding the Terriers to a field goal on their first series. It was the only points they had in the first half.
“Our defense was excited to play,” Lynch said. “They really helped control field position, which is always important on cold, windy days. That was a big advantage for us.”
Like the offense, Hagan believes that it’s important that everyone has learned his own roll.
“Our defense has been playing outstanding and I think just like the offense, when everyone is sure of their assignments, it makes it that much easier to make plays and shutdown offenses,” Hagan said.
On the Tiger’s second possession, Hunt teamed with Amen Galley on a 43-yard touchdown.
Kicker Marko Adams knocked the extra point in and passed the single-season record for points by kicking. It was his 66th of the season.
“It’s a cool thing,” Adams said of breaking the record. “Honestly, it’s an honor to even be in a position to achieve something like that. The bottom line is, I wouldn't have been able to do it without the offense, defense or special teams doing their jobs.
Adams broke Tom Downhan’s record that was set in 1986.
Another defensive stop led to yet another passing touchdown from Hunt to Robinson, 21-yards, to make it 21-3.
After yet another scoring drive, capped by a 43-yard field goal by Adams, the Tigers gained possession of the ball off an interception forced by sophomore Thomas Gray and picked off by Peter Nelson.
“Our defense has been playing beyond expectations this whole year,” Nolan said.
Hunt then added another touchdown, this time with a 28-yard pass to junior Connor Jeffers, making the score 31-3.
“I was just getting the ball to the receivers,” Hunt said, “and they were making plays after the catch.”
WGRE’s Richard Sherman was impressed with Hunt’s play.
“This was the best I have seen Matt Hunt look in a while,” Sherman said. “He was very sharp, efficient, and made lots of good decisions.”
According to Sherman, however, it was the defense that really stepped up.
“The defense, however, gets my game ball for the week,” Sherman said. “Between forcing all the turnovers, the negative plays they created, and the constant pressure they put on Robert Partridge [Hiram’s quarterback], Hiram never had a chance.”
In the last two minutes of the first half, it was Gray’s turn to get the interception, and took it back 18-yards for a pick-six. The score at the end of the first half was 38-3.
“Good things come from forcing punts and turnovers, so that has allowed for us, as a team, to achieve momentum in most games,” Adams said. “Hiram has had offensive success this year, so the defense holding them to 12 points says a lot about their preparation.”
Into the second half, Hiram was able to put a couple more points on the board with a 23-yard field goal, making the score 38-6.
Then Hunt completed his fifth touchdown pass of the day to first-year Jake Hagan for 39-yards.
“The passing game was there for us Saturday because of the run game we established,” Hagan said. “When you have a solid run game like we do, it opens the playbook up for Coach Lynch to call in some deep passes and bigger plays. Add on top of that our QB finding the right people with the ball and it makes for a winning combination like it did on Saturday.”
Hiram’s only touchdown came after an interception from sophomore Ian Good, DePauw’s backup quarterback, which four plays later led to a 1-yard rush touchdown.
“I think that over the course of the last three weeks we’ve made good improvement as a team and on both sides of the ball,” Lynch said. “I’m happy for the seniors because this is their first winning record since they’ve been here and they’re the ones that have lead us. They provide great leadership.”
Up next for the Tigers is the season finale with the Wabash College Little Giants, beginning at 1:07 p.m. at Hollett Stadium.