It's just another one of those games for DePauw football.
Special teams made mistakes, the offense couldn't run the football and the defense surrendered more than 450 yards of offense.
The defense was the main culprit on the day, as Denison University (2-6, 2-3 NCAC) exerted its will over the young Tigers (2-6, 1-4 NCAC) defense. The visitors at Blackstock Stadium downed DePauw 39-20 Saturday afternoon. The Big Red offense was 5-5 in red zone conversions, and the Tigers' offense was just 3-16 on third down conversions.
"We just missed tackles," interim head coach Scott Srnka said. "That's all it is. (Denison) didn't do anything different than what we've been working on all week. They were about as good as I thought they would be. ... But we missed tackles, we were poor, and that's my fault because the defense wasn't ready to go. We've got a lot of work to do this week."
The game started off in a positive fashion for DePauw as sophomore quarterback, Drew Seaman, led his team's second offensive drive down field. He hit junior Nikko Sansone for a 24-yard gain, then senior tight end Bobby Coburn down the middle for a 34-yard touchdown. On the extra point attempt, senior holder Robby Schuler took a high snap and was tackled as he tried to run into the end zone.
As fast as the offense started, it quickly slowed down.
Three offensive possessions later, Seaman threw an interception that sparked the Denison offense. The Big Red used six plays to go 31 yards down the field to even the score. The extra point attempt fail, and the score was tied, 6-6.
DePauw's defense showed signs of life midway through the second quarter when senior Jack Quinn forced a fumble near midfield. Junior Mitch Dwenger then tore down downfield 45-yards and the touchdown to regain the lead, 12-6. The PAT was blocked.
And then the flood gates opened.
Denison scored 33 unanswered points led by five plays that went for more than 30 yards. The Tigers' defense struggled to guard wide receivers down field, and linebackers and safeties missed tackles.
"That's not good," Srnka said. "When you don't block and tackle that's what's going to happen. We did not play good at all, and I don't know what happened, we just didn't play."
The Tigers did finally end the Big Red's scoring run when freshman quarterback, Justin Murray, started an offensive drive with a 37-yard pass to junior wide receiver, Zach Alleman on the right sideline. On Denison's 20 yard-line, Murray heaved a pass to the front left side of the end zone to Coburn, and the Denison defense was called for pass interference. Senior Taylor Wagner received a 6-yard pass in the end zone from Murray, and the Tigers converted a two-point try, brining the score to 39-20.
The drive was too little, too late as an on-side kick was recovered by DePauw, but Murray was unable to lead the offense down field for another score.
The running game was virtually non-existent for the Tigers. Murray rattled off the longest run of the game in the waning minutes - a 23-yard quarterback keeper. However, four ball carriers netted negative 13 yards.
"They've got a very good defensive front," Srnka said. "We just couldn't get by them. ... I didn't watch much offense today, I was trying to fix what we were doing on defense. We dropped way too many wide-open looks."
The poor effort was concerning to Srnka after the game, as he said his team had a good practice and should have been ready for Denison. DePauw accumulated 351 yards through the air led by Seaman's 255. Murray chipped in with 95.
Next week, the Tigers travel to Crawfordsville, Ind. for the playing of the 119th Monon Bell Classic against Wabash College (7-2, 4-2 NCAC).
"The Wabash game is the Wabash game and if you can't get excited for that, you have problems," Srnka said.