DePauw (6-1, 5-1) at Denison (6-1, 5-1), Saturday Oct. 31, 2:00 p.m., Deeds Field-Piper Stadium, Granville, Ohio.
Denison Scope
The 6-1 start for the Big Red is the best Denison’s program has had in years. The Big Red opened the season with five straight wins, including blowout wins over Marietta College, Oberlin College and The College of Wooster. The Big Red’s only setback came in a North Coast Athletic Conference loss on the road at Wittenberg University -- a team the Tigers beat early this month. But Dension does have a win over Ohio Wesleyan University, the only team to beat the Tigers this season.
For a lot of offenses, a two quarterback system is tough to run. However, the Big Red have had success with it so far this year. Tommy Lammarino and Canaan Gabele have both split time under center and have led the Denison offense to over 220 passing yards per game. The Big Red have also moved the ball efficiently on the ground, averaging 135 rushing yards per game.
The weakest point of a very strong Denison defense is their run stopping. The Big Red give up on average just over 100 yards on the ground per game. Denison has effectively defended the pass, allowing less than 150 yards per game through the air and forcing nine interceptions.
DePauw Scope
The Tigers will come into Saturday’s game fresh off their first loss of the season on the road last weekend against the Battling Bishops. The loss drops them to second in the NCAC standings. However, the Tigers still control their own destiny as they look to win the conference. With Wabash College remaining undefeated, the Tigers will likely need to win the rest of their games in order to win the NCAC and qualify for the playoffs.
Statistically speaking, last weekend’s loss to Ohio Wesleyan was junior quarterback Matt Hunt’s weakest performance of the year. His completion percentage of 48.8 was Hunt’s lowest mark this season, and the two interceptions were the first time the quarterback had turned the ball over multiple times in a game. Against the solid Denison secondary, Hunt can’t have another performance like he did against Ohio Wesleyan.
Denison Key Players
QB, Canaan Gebele, Fr.: Gebele got all of the snaps under center for the Big Red last weekend against Allegheny College and performed pretty well. He completed over 70 percent of his passes and threw two touchdowns in a blowout win over the Gators. Despite splitting time under center with Iammarino, Gelebe still has eight touchdown passes to just two interceptions and leads the team in rushing. If he gets the start for the Big Red, he’ll have to have a big day against the DePauw defense.
WR, Dushawn Brown, Sr.: Brown has been the standout in the Big Red’s receiving core. His 46 receptions lead the team and are 28 more than Cam Layer who is second. Brown averages over 100 yards in receptions and leads the Big Red in touchdown catches with seven.
DB, Andrew Baird, Jr.: Baird leads the Big Red in tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions on the season. He also leads the Denison secondary in passes broken up. After a slow day from Hunt and the DePauw receivers against the Battling Bishops, it’ll be interesting to see how the Tigers come back with a solid player like Baird on the other side.
Matchup to Watch: Matt Hunt vs. the Denison secondary
After putting up great numbers in the first six games of the year, Hunt took a step back in the Tigers’ 27-22 loss at Ohio Wesleyan last weekend. His 41 pass attempts were a season-high but Hunt still completed less than 50 percent of his passes. Hunt and the DePauw receiving core will need to play better if the Tigers are going to finish the season strong.
DePauw wins if…
They don’t let last week’s loss affect them too much. I still think the Tigers have a lot of talent and are in a position to win the NCAC and make the playoffs but now they can’t afford another setback. DePauw will need to put the loss to Ohio Wesleyan behind them and focus on the Big Red in order to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Predictions
I don’t think the Tigers will have any issues getting things back on track. Hunt will be able to put up big numbers on offense and the trio of DePauw running backs should have a good day against the Denison rush defense. For the Tigers defensively, the keys will be to shut down Brown in the passing game and limit the dual threat capabilities of Gebele. If the Tigers can do all that, they shouldn’t have any trouble getting win number seven.
Final Score
DePauw 31, Denison 17.
