On Saturday, the Kenyon football team hit the road to face another conference opponent, The College of Wooster. Despite flashes of promising offensive pressure amid an otherwise challenging season, the Owls fell 49-6. Kenyon’s record currently stands at 1-7 (1-5 NCAC), with the team looking to generate more success in its remaining two conference games. 

To start the match, the Fighting Scots won the toss and deferred to the Owls, who couldn’t convert on their first drive of the game and were forced to punt. Wooster was then able to maintain a steady initial offensive drive and scored a touchdown. The extra point attempt was good, putting the score at 7-0 and the Owls’ defense under threat early on. 

Throughout the remainder of the first quarter, Kenyon’s formidable defense successfully dampened Wooster’s attacking attempts. However, Wooster scored a devastating five consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter, and with this domination, the Fighting Scots jumped out to a 42-0 lead. Even as Wooster mounted an overpowering attack, Kenyon had strong moments where the Owls maintained steady possession of the ball. Tyler Gladden ’28 amassed over 100 receiving yards throughout the contest, including crucial conversions such as one in the second quarter when he caught a pass from Ryan Dean ’29 for 12 yards on a key third-and-10 play. 

Going into the second half, Kenyon looked to stop the bleeding from the grueling onslaught of attack by the Fighting Scots in the first two quarters, managing to subdue much of Wooster’s attack and hold the Fighting Scots to one touchdown in the period. The Owls also got on the board, as Dean found Gladden for a huge 29-yard touchdown. Dean’s pass on the two-point conversion failed, and so the Owls settled for six points. Going into the fourth quarter, the score was 49-6. 

Though Kenyon looked to finish a hard-fought game on a high note, the Owls’ offense failed to get another touchdown. However, Kenyon managed to leave the Fighting Scots scoreless in the fourth quarter as well. 

The Owls will look to rebound on Saturday at home against Denison University, striving to change recent struggles into late-season success on Senior Day.