Tigers Fall at Rhodes, 17-12

STATS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - DePauw coach Nick Mourouzis stresses the takeaway-giveaway statistic as a major key to winning football games and on Saturday there wasn't a better predictor as the Tigers turned the ball over four times on the way to a 17-12 loss at Rhodes in the season and Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

While the Tigers coughed up the ball four times, Rhodes didn't relinquish the ball the entire game. That, coupled with Tiger penalties at crucial times, left the 20th-year head coach wondering what might have been. 

"We had too many mistakes and turnovers against a god football team," Mourouzis said.

The Tigers dominated play in the first quarter as they outgained the Lynx 156-10 in total offense and kept the hosts from getting a first down in the first 15 minutes.

On their second drive of the game, DePauw started at their own 47 and quickly moved deep into Rhodes territory as Jason Lee completed an 18-yard pass to Rondell Ferguson and Scott Thies gained 16 on the ground. The drive stalled, but freshman Ben Murray's 32-yard field goal gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead with 9:15 left in the first.

After another defensive stand, the Tigers started on their own 18, but this drive ended on the third play after Lee's pass was picked off by Corliss Givens who streaked down the right side for a 33-yard score.

DePauw's offense bounced right back with a 10-play, 87-yard drive that was capped off with a 15-yard scoring pass from Lee to sophomore Dan Ryan. Murray's PAT made it 10-7 with 1:16 left in the first.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the Tigers' game in the opening quarter was their ability to run the ball as they picked up 82 yards on the ground. What was distressing from the DePauw perspective that even with the domination they only held a three-point lead.

That lead disappeared as the hosts started a second-quarter drive in DePauw territory and picked up four first downs before Kevin Gennusa rushed in from three yards out to give Rhodes the lead for good at 14-10 with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.

Once each in the second and third quarters the Tigers had 17-yard runs called back due to holding penalties and were forced to punt three plays later on each instance.

Even with the mistakes on offense, the Tigers' defense kept them in the game. After Andy English's 36-yard field goal gave Rhodes a 17-10 advantage with 1:53 left in the third, the Tigers seemed to get the offense back on track.

Starting on their own 35, DePauw drove to the Rhodes 18 before an illegal procedure penalty backed them up to the 23. Lee's pass on third and 14 was picked off by Sylvester Chisolm at the Rhodes 4-yard line.

The Tigers got the ball back after the defense kept the Lynx pinned deep in their own territory, but after Jackson Rust's 8-yard run Lee was picked off for the third time as Charles Winston Sheehan halted the drive.

Later in the quarter, English missed a 37-yard field goal and the Tigers started from their own 20 with 2:29 left. Lee connected with Ryan on second down for a 35-yard gain and the Tigers were at midfield. Another pass to Ryan and Lee's two-yard run moved the ball to the 30. Lee missed on second and third down passes setting up the Tigers' last chance on fourth down with 51 seconds remaining.

The Tigers called for the halfback pass but Thies' toss was picked off by Sheehan to end the Tigers' rally and eventually the game.

"I was pleased with the effort by our players," Mourouzis said. "We never quit and still had a chance to score at the end and never quit."

DePauw outgained Rhodes 299-254, but completed just 12 of 34 passes. A.J. Smart led the Old Gold with 64 rushing yards followed by Thies' 60 as the Tigers totaled 151 on the ground.

Joe Schoen hauled in four passes for 43 yards and Ryan grabbed three for 66. Genussa led Rhodes with 55 rushing yards, while freshman quarterback Gary Rockne completed nine of 16 passes for 82 yards. The great-grandson of Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne also rushed for 33 yards.

Frisky Williams led the Tigers' defense with nine tackles including four for losses. In all, DePauw sacked the Lynx five times with Jason Geringer leading the way with two.

The Tigers begin a four-game homestand on Saturday with a Community Day game with in-state rival Hanover at 1:30 p.m. There is no admission charge.