DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University football team welcomed Oberlin to town on Saturday, hoping to bounce back from their two-game skid and end the season with a victory. The Battling Bishops did just that, reaching the end zone five times and holding Oberlin scoreless in a 35-0 victory. Senior Josh Hurst etched his name into the Ohio Wesleyan football record book in his final game, hauling in seven catches to surpass Calvin Cagney (198) for the most career receptions in program history with 200.

The Red and Black season comes to a close at 3-7, and 2-6 within NCAC play. Oberlin finishes the year winless at 0-10.

The Bishops started the game strong, as Carson Rust forced a fumble and jumped on it at the Oberlin 23-yard line, setting the offense up with excellent field position. The OWU offense took advantage of it, as Devon Haley capped off a five play drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown. Later in the quarter, quarterback C.J. Jackson found Reddik Pillarelli for a 62-yard gain, putting the Bishops in prime position to add seven more. Moments later, Jackson connected with J.T. James from one-yard out to push the OWU lead to 14.

In the second quarter, the Yeoman were driving, but A.J Hanslik intercepted quarterback Drew Nye at the eight-yard line to halt the Oberlin drive. OWU was unable to execute following the pick, but later in the quarter Jake Smothers would grab an interception of his own at the Oberlin 31-yard line. A couple costly penalties and a failed fourth down attempt stalled the Bishop offense once again. Both teams were unable to find the endzone in the second period of play, and the Red and Black took a 14-0 lead into halftime. 

Following the intermission, the Bishop offense was behind the chains looking to convert on 3rd-and-24 at the Oberlin 31-yard line. C.J. Jackson found Josh Hurst who picked up the first down and more, taking it in for six more and making it a three possession game. The Yeoman offense continued to struggle, but were driving as the third quarter came to a close. 

In the final period of play, Oberlin took it down to the OWU nine-yard line and were on the brink of ending the shutout. However, the Bishop defense continued to come up big, forcing an incompletion on fourth-and-five and handing the ball back over to the offense. Jackson found a crossing Austin Koslow who made the house call from 63 yards out, and the Bishops were up 28-0. Later in the quarter, Mysaun Sanders capped off a six play, 60-yard drive, all coming on the ground, and OWU led by 35 with just over two minutes to play. The Yeoman couldn't respond, leaving the final scoreline 35-0.

THE NUMBERS
Ohio Wesleyan totaled 382 yards of offense, with 264 through the air and 118 on the ground. Oberlin finished with 282 yards, including 203 passing and 79 rushing.

C.J. Jackson led the OWU offense again with 295 all purpose yards. Jackson was 16-for-27 through the air for a total of 264 yards and three touchdowns. He added 31 on the ground.

Sophomore Reddik Pillarelli led the receiving corps with four catches for 97 yards. 

Josh Hurst hauled in seven passes for 79 yards and found the endzone once. With the catches, Hurst brings his OWU career reception total to 200, an Ohio Wesleyan record. Calvin Cagney previously held the record, recording 198 receptions during his four-year career at OWU.

Austin Koslow caught two passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.

Bryan Hines Jr. made two catches for 13 yards.

J.T. James had one catch for one yard and a touchdown. 

A.J. Hanslik grabbed his first career interception in his final game as a Bishop.

Jake Smothers grabbed an interception in his final bout as well, his first of the season. 

Smothers led the OWU defense with nine tackles (seven solo), followed by Joseph Seney with eight (one solo), and Grant Johnson with seven (four solo). 

The Red and Black totaled brought the quarterback down in the backfield four times. Jacob Lowry and Kevin King accounted for one and a half sacks each. Brayden Hatcher and Cayden Periandri accounted for half a sack each. 

10 Bishops recorded at least half a tackle for loss, with Grant Johnson, Kevin King, and Jacob Lowry all recording a solo TFL.

OWU made eight pass breakups, with Braydon Pavlus recording two.