OBERLIN, Ohio - The Kalamazoo College football team won its season opener 3-0 at Oberlin College on Saturday.
Greg Kearns' 23-yard field goal with 14:05 left in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner while the Hornet defense recorded its first shutout since 1998.
Kalamazoo took over for what it hoped would be the final time with 3:02 left in the fourth, but a fumble gave the Yeomen the ball on the Kalamazoo 36 with 2:13 remaining. Oberlin advanced to the 11 and on 2nd-and-7 Kalamazoo's Jake Sypniewski intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal the shutout win for the Hornets.
Oberlin recorded 250 yards of total offense compared to 230 for Kalamazoo. Each team threw three interceptions and lost one fumble.
Niko Nickson was 19-of-33 passing for 183 yards while also rushing for 21 yards.
Jared Pittman gained 26 yards on 15 carries.
Anthony Giovanni led the receivers with 73 yards on five catches. Sam Matthews (25 yards) and Raekwon Castelow (22 yards) each made four catches.
Jacob Chantres made 12 tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble. Jake Sypniewski finished with five tackles while intercepting three passes including the one on the final drive.
Dakota Walbeck and josh Martin each made eight tackles with Martin also recording two sacks and a forced fumble. Noah Coplan was in on seven tackles while Isaiah Fleming also had a sack.
Kalamazoo returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 16 at Greenville University (Ill.) at 2 p.m. Eastern.