The Kenyon College football team fell 35-6 to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds in its home opener on Saturday. After two games, the Owls are now 0-2 on the season. 

The Blugolds opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 36-yard rushing touchdown to jump out to an early advantage. Kenyon’s defense kept the margin close for the rest of the period, holding strong despite long possessions from the visitors and the Owls’ offense hardly seeing the field. 

Kenyon’s defensive breakthrough came midway through the second quarter. After a blocked field goal by J’Sun Gardner ’26, defensive back Jackson Belyn ’27 picked up the ball and returned it 77 yards to the end zone, tying the game 6-6. The momentum was short-lived, however, as the Owls missed the extra point and Wisconsin-Eau Claire answered with a short touchdown pass just before halftime to carry a 13-6 lead into the break. 

The tide fully turned against Kenyon in the third quarter, when the Blugolds connected on a 54-yard passing play for a touchdown less than two minutes after play resumed. The Owls’ offense struggled to find consistency, while UW-Eau Claire continued to build its lead. 

Early in the fourth quarter, the visitors completed a drive with another short touchdown pass to make it a four-score game. A field goal on their next possession extended the Blugolds’ lead and a defensive touchdown on a pick six against Kenyon quarterback Ryan Dean ’29  finalized the 35-6 outcome. Despite the defeat, Kenyon’s special teams play was strong, blocking two extra points and disrupting multiple scoring chances throughout the afternoon. 

The Owls will travel to Greencastle, Indiana, on Saturday to face DePauw University in their first NCAC game of the season.