The Kenyon football team fell to John Carroll University on Saturday night with a final score of 56-7, a disheartening result for the Owls. After playing the experienced John Carroll Blue Streaks on their home turf, the Owls’ record dropped to 1-2 (0-2 NCAC).
Kenyon’s defense had no answer for the Blue Streaks’ offense, allowing two running touchdowns and three passes to the end zone by the end of the first quarter. The Owls struggled to keep up with the fast-paced game that the Blue Streaks’ speed and strong offensive line produced. After the first 15 minutes of the match, Kenyon was already down five touchdowns.
In the second quarter, the Owls slowed the Blue Streaks’ run, only allowing two touchdowns to round out the half. Despite the frustration, Kenyon continued its attempt to stop John Carroll’s quarterback, but his passes seemed unreadable for the Kenyon defense.
After regrouping at halftime, the Owls stepped back onto the field in need of a successful drive. Max Heis ’30 ignited Kenyon’s energy with a reception, landing inches away from the sideline as he caught the ball from quarterback Drew Morgan ’29. Morgan, who was under heavy pressure throughout the game, threw only six complete passes. Kenyon finished the third quarter giving up only one touchdown to the Blue Streaks, who recovered a fumble less than ten yards away from the end zone.
By the fourth quarter, Kenyon started to find an offensive rhythm against the dominant Blue Streaks. Jackson Belyn ’27, a defensive back, led the charge, causing John Carroll’s first and only turnover of the game. Knocking the ball loose from the arms of a Blue Streak, Belyn gave the Owls their best chance of the game.
Two interference calls on the Blue Streaks gave Kenyon good field position, allowing tight end Chimdi Anyanwu ’30 to catch the 3-yard short pass from quarterback Ryan Dean ’29 with less than five minutes left on the clock. “I don’t count my touchdown as individual but more of a team feat,” Anyanwu wrote, reflecting on the Owls’ only score of the day, in an email to the Collegian. “At the end of the day, it showed that we did indeed fight to the very end.”
Kenyon hosts DePauw University (Ind.) on Saturday for the Owls’ homecoming game, where they look to snap this losing streak against the Tigers.