The Kenyon football team’s winning streak ended at three games when the Owls fell to the Wittenberg University Tigers on Saturday. After averaging more than 30 points per game during its winning streak, Kenyon’s offense faltered in the 27-7 loss, moving its record to 4-3 (3-2 NCAC).
The Owls took to Tomsich Field on Saturday looking to run their win streak up to four games and ensure a .500 season. Kenyon’s defense got off to a strong start, after the Owls forced a turnover on downs just over two minutes into the game. Unfortunately for Kenyon, its next drive ended in futility when Wittenberg recovered a fumble to take over at its own 45-yard line. After the two teams traded empty possessions, the Tigers put the game’s first points on the board. Following a thundering 35-yard rushing touchdown, Wittenberg held a 7-0 lead with just over five minutes to play in the first quarter. Though Kenyon looked to tie things up on its next drive, the Tigers intercepted Park Penrod ’25’s pass to set themselves up in Owls territory. After a costly defensive pass interference penalty on Kenyon, Wittenberg needed just two plays to run the score up to 13-0.
Looking to put a stranglehold on the game, the Tigers put massive pressure on Penrod during the Owls’ first drive of the second quarter. Wittenberg’s Dalton Allen, who earned NCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, sacked Penrod four times on the drive for a combined loss of 28 yards, and the Tigers got the ball back at their 29-yard line after a turnover on downs. After an unnecessary roughness penalty on Kenyon, Wittenberg marched down the field, capping the drive with a 1-yard rush to take a 20-0 lead. Kenyon was then able to pin the Tigers deep in their own end, the Owls had good field position with four minutes to play in the half, and Kenyon moved further into Wittenberg territory with important carries from leading rusher Julius Thompson ’26. Following a 3-yard quarterback keeper, Penrod found Dylan Carlquist ’26 in the endzone. The senior read the defense and saw a great play for his receiver. “I knew there would be pressure, but I trusted the match-up Dylan had on the outside and gave him a chance,” Penrod wrote in an email to the Collegian. “The play that was called was one of our bread-and-butter plays, and Dylan does a really good job about pressing the corners’ toes and getting open.” After Wittenberg missed a field goal in the final minute of the half, the Tigers held a 20-7 lead after two quarters of play.
Trailing by two scores to open the third quarter, the Owls appeared to be in great position to cut down their deficit and get back into the game as they received the kickoff. Unfortunately, a three-and-out gave Wittenberg the ball back just two minutes later. The Tigers drove 68 yards down the field, capping the possession with a 34-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a 27-7 lead that they would never surrender. Though Kenyon had its chances in the fourth quarter, turnovers proved costly, as the Owls could not find the endzone again. Wittenberg dominated Kenyon in total offense, outgaining the Owls by a margin of 354 yards to 66. It was also a monster day for the Tigers’ defensive line, as they sacked Penrod 11 times.
For Penrod, Kenyon’s success is entirely in its own control. “We can get back on our winning streak by playing disciplined football,” he said. “We had a lot of self-inflicted mistakes that cost us when we needed it to go our way. We trust the guys that we have and we just have to have a higher level of execution and we can start winning again.”
The Owls will head west to take on the Wabash College Little Giants on Saturday. Penrod knows that Kenyon is heading into a difficult stretch of the season, but he believes the team can reach a higher level. “Our focus and intensity in practice needs to be brought to a higher level,” he said. “Looking at our schedule, we will be facing better competition than we were earlier in the season, so we need to be more disciplined and hungry in practice than we have been before.”