Tigers fall to DePauw in SCAC opener

Box Score BOX SCORE

Despite a beautiful fall day and several bright moments, both offensively and defensively, All-American wide receiver Alex Koors and DePauw University were simply too much for the Sewanee Tigers this afternoon. Sewanee gave up a turnover on each of their first two drives of the day and were never able to recover, as they dropped their SCAC opener to host DePauw University 35-7.

Sewanee fielded the opening kickoff and returned it 18 yards before settling in for their first series of the day. Two Lee Schurlknight (Darlington, S.C., The Byrnes School) passes and a DePauw personal foul aided the purple Tigers in traveling to the DePauw 30-yard line before DePauw's Tyler Doane forced Sewanee freshman Curtis Johnson (Atlanta, Ga., Holy Spirit Prep) to fumble the ball. Johnson's fumbled skirted the Sewanee sideline but DePauw was able to recover and take over on their own 31.

Following the fumble, DePauw needed only 2:41 seconds and seven plays to get on the board first. DePauw running back Derrick Karazsia was able to force his way past the Sewanee defensive for a 2-yard touchdown. Eric Malm's extra point made it 7-0 less than five minutes into the game.

Sewanee's Ben Cleveland (Ft. Worth, Tex., Trinity Valley School) started the Tigers second drive in the same fashion as their first, with an 18-yard kick return that set the Tigers up at their own 23-yard line. And once again, despite several positive-yard offensive plays, Sewanee turned the ball over to the DePauw Tigers. This time though, Schurlknight was picked off at the Sewanee 36 by DePauw's Kyle Sherer.

The DePauw Tigers started their drive deep into Sewanee territory and were able to drive all the way to the Sewanee four-yard line before Sewanee's defense came up big, the first of several bright defensive bright spots for the Tigers. DePauw attempted to convert on 4th and 2 at the Sewanee four-yard line when Karaszsia managed to gain one yard before being stopped by Sewanee's Will Law (Jacksonville, Fla., Jacksonville Episcopal). DePauw turned the ball over on downs and the Tigers started their third drive of the day deep in their own territory.

Sewanee was held to a three and out before DePauw took over again. DePauw drove to the Sewanee 17-yard line, where Malm attempted a field goal that would have made it 10-0 DePauw, but his 34-yard attempt bounced off the right upright, keeping the scoreboard at 7-0 and once again giving Sewanee the ball deep in their own territory.

After another Sewanee three and out, DePauw took possession and drove to the Sewanee 18-yard line. There, Sewanee's defense stood out again. Malm attempted his second field goal of the day for DePauw, but after the ball sailed off his foot, Sewanee's Chalankis Brown (Millbrook, Ala., Stanhope Elmore) got a hand on it and knocked it down. With Brown's block, the purple Tigers took over on their own 27-yard line but was unable to capitalize on their defensive effort.

On DePauw's ensuing possession, senior quarterback Michael Engle hooked up with Koors for a 61-yard touchdown that put DePauw ahead 14-0 with 7:41 left in the first half. Sewanee fumbled on the following possession and DePauw took control at their own 34-yard line. The black and gold Tigers promptly drove 66 yards before Engle connected with senior tight end Mark Branigan for a 12-yard score, making it 21-0 in favor of the hosts. That score would stand as the two Tiger squads headed into halftime.

While the Sewanee defense created several key plays in the first half, their offensive counterpart got theirs in the second. After Sewanee's first drive of the third quarter stalled at the DePauw 46, Alex Koors got his second TD of the day. After breaking DePauw's career receiving record earlier in the drive, Koors hauled in an Engle pass for a five-yard touchdown. Malm's extra point made it 28-0, DePauw.

On Sewanee's ensuing possession the Tigers were able to tally back-to-back first downs for the first time all afternoon. Junior Ben Cleveland rushed for 22 yards and sophomore Jase Brooks (Powder Springs, Ga., Harrison) went for 11, but the Tigers were unable to capitalize before failing to convert a 4th and 5 attempt at the DePauw 30. After gaining the ball on downs, DePauw only needed four plays before the third Engle to Koors TD of the day. Engle connected with Koors for a 43-yarder to put the hosts up 35-7 with 14:15 left in the fourth quarter. It was the last time the black and gold Tigers would see the end zone today.

After the final DePauw touchdown, Sewanee's offense finally clicked. Cleveland returned the kickoff 20 yards to set the Tigers up at their own 24-yard line. Schurlknight converted on 3rd and 11, connecting with sophomore wide receiver Derrick Duncan (Thomaston, Ga., Brainerd) for a 14-yard gain. Schurlknight followed that up with an 11-yard run to the Sewanee 48 and an 8-yard rush to the DePauw 44. Two Zeke Wilson (Snellville, Ga., George Walton Academy) rushes set the Tigers back two yards to the DePauw 46 before Schurlknight connected with senior wide receiver John Ugorji (Washington, D.C., Friendship Collegiate Academy). Ugorji hauled in a 16-yard pass for a first down and two plays later, Ugorji and Schurlknight connected again, this time for a 6-yard gain. After a Sewanee timeout, Schurlknight found Cleveland for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Trey Knighton's (Arab, Ala., Arab) extra point made it 35-7, a score that would stand until the final buzzer.

Sewanee gained 17 first downs, a marked improvement from the seven they gained last week against Hampden-Sydney College. Both Tiger squads gained 130 rushing yards, but the difference-maker turned out to be passing yards. DePauw hauled in 394 while Sewanee had 137. Last week against HSC, Sewanee only gained 42 yards passing on three of nine passing. Schurlknight finished the day 18 of 33 with one interception. DePauw's Engle finished the day 25 of 37 with 384 passing yards. Ben Cleveland led the Tiger rushing attack with 46 yards, followed by Michael Poarch's (Chattanooga, Tenn., Tyner Academy) 34. Senior punter Geoffrey Marolda (Houston, Tex., Houston Episcopal) punted four times for 153 yards.

JuniorAlfonza Knight (Nashville, Tenn., M.B.A.) paced the Sewanee defensive effort with 16 tackles, three of them solo, and one pass break up. Junior Zac Atkins (Dallas, Tex., Lake Highlands) contributed nine tackles, while sophomores J.D. Crabtree (Tullahoma, Tenn., Tullahoma) and John Philip Boudreaux (Fort Worth, Tex., Nolan Catholic) both tallied six.

Sewanee falls to 1-3 on the season and 0-1 in SCAC play. DePauw moves to 3-0 on the year and 1-0 in conference play. Sewanee hosts SCAC foe Centre College next weekend for Family Weekend. Centre is 2-2 after a 42-40 win over Austin College this afternoon. Last year, the Tigers fell to the Colonels 20-0 in Danville. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.