Freshman quarterback Matt Hunt threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score and helped DePauw to a 45-11 win over visiting Oberlin on Old Gold Day on the freshly dedicated Nick Mourouzis Field.
The Tigers improved to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, while the Yeomen dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-4 in the conference.
In addition to the Tigers' first win of the day, the other highlight was the return of over 40 captains and many more former players to honor coach Mourouzis and his family with a halftime ceremony dedicating the new AstroTurf field on the location that has hosted DePauw football since 1921. Mourouzis known affectionately as "Coach Nick", directed the Tigers for 23 years (1981-2003) with a 133-82-4 record.
For the second straight week, the Tigers got off to a quick start as Cody Baker intercepted Oberlin quarterback Lucas Poggiali's pass on the third play of the game and three plays later Nikko Sansone put the Tigers on the board with a 17-yard run.
The Yeomen struck on their next possession as Erickson Andrews booted a 27-yard field goal to make it 7-3.
Hunt's 13-yard scamper early in the second lifted the Tigers to a 14-3 advantage and the drive was set up by Garrett Rice's interception at the DePauw 1.
After DePauw stopped the Yeomen near midfield, the Tigers took over on their own 9 and drove 91 yards in just six plays including a 71-yard pass play from Hunt to tight end Kevin Ude. Hunt's 7-yard scoring pass to Barry Flynn made it 21-3.
The Tigers tacked on seven more in the half after Oberlin pinned the hosts at their own 1-yard line on a punt. DePauw drove 99 yards in eight plays including a pair of Hunt-to-Flynn pass plays covering a total of 64 yards. Andrew Cusumano's 2-yard run made it 28-3 with just 47 seconds left in the half.
Hunt and Flynn teamed up one more time with a 1-yard pass play wiht seven minutes left in the third. The series was set up by Nick Freund's fumble recovery after Mitch Dwenger's hit.
Oberlin's final score came on a 28-yard pass from Poggiali to Blake Buckhannon with 4:15 remaining in the third. The Tigers quickly countered with a 66-yard pass from Hunt to Connor Jeffers.
Eric Malm booted a 23-yard field goal early in the fourth to round out the scoring.
The Tigers totaled 478 yards including 354 through the air as Drew Seaman connected on five of six. Flynn hauled in nine for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while Ude has two for 82. Sansone rushed for 60 yards on 17 carries.
Poggiali was 13 of 24 for 159 yards with one touchdown but tossed three interceptions. Adam Niec caght five for 72 yards with Buckhannon totaling four for 70 yards. Buckhannon also rushed for 75 yards on 16 tries.
Dwenger's 11 tackles led DePauw, while Adam Folta followed with seven. The Tigers also totaled 6.0 tackles for loss including three sacks. The defensive unit also forced Oberlin into four turnovers which the offense converted into 24 points.
Kirby Livingston paced the Yeomen with 10 tackles, while Adrian Kelly and Kyle Kessler each added six stops.
DePauw returns to action on Saturday, October 19, when it travels to Ohio Wesleyan for a 1 p.m. North Coast Athletic Conference game.