Delaware, Ohio - Nathan McCahill's 7-yard pass to Evan Bohrer with 13 seconds left lifted DePauw to a 22-21 North Coast Athletic Conference win at Ohio Wesleyan as the Tigers wiped out a 19-0 halftime deficit. The Tigers moved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the NCAC, while the Battling Bishops dropped to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play.

The Battling Bishops built a 19-0 halftime lead before the Tigers started their comeback early in the third on the opening drive of the second half. McCahill completed a 30-yard scoring pass to Drew Moore to cap a 7-play drive in 3:56.

DePauw's defense stopped the Battling Bishops on the next series, but punter Gabriel Chlebowski landed a 58-yard punt at the DePauw 1. Gus Baumgartner was tackled in the end zone by Terrell Burton on the next play resulting in a safety and pushing the hosts' lead to 21-7.

After the free kick, the Tigers forced another three-and-out and the offense drove into Ohio Wesleyan territory after McCahill completed a 37-yard pass to Jaylon Smith to the Battling Bishops' 27. The drive stalled but Jack Drake booted a career-long 47-yard field goal with 4:28 left in the third to cut the deficit to 21-10.

Early in the fourth, Ohio Wesleyan picked up its initial first down of the half, but DePauw's Tommy Ryan picked off Kaden Buza's pass at the Ohio Wesleyan 41. 

An Ohio Wesleyan pass interference penalty on a 4th-and-1 play gave the Tigers the ball at the hosts' 17. The Tigers then converted another fourth down as McCahill rushed for two yards ot the Ohio Wesleyan 6. Faced with a third-and-goal from the 9, McCahill connected with Robby Ballentine for a touchdown. A DePauw penalty after the play moved the extra-point back 15 yards and Joseph Sullivan's try was off the mark and Ohio Wesleyan's lead was cut to 21-16 with 9:52 left.

DePauw's defense stopped the Bishops at their 34 and forced a punt that was downed at the DePauw 37 with 6:36 left. After picking up a first down, the Tigers again converted a fourth down when McCahill and Ballentine teamed for a 21-yard gain to the Ohio Wesleyan 24. A 9-yard pickup on first down moved the ball to the 15, but a 2-yard loss and an incomplete pass forced another fourth down. McCahill then completed a 7-yard pass to Ballentine to the 10. 

Drew Moore rushed for three yards on the first play and McCahill was stopped for no gain on the second play. McCahill then connected with Bohrer open for a 7-yard score to give the Tigers a 22-21 lead with 13 seconds left. The touchdown catch was the first of Bohrer's collegiate career. The try-for-two failed and Ohio Wesleyan was able to get the ball to its own 29 as time expired preserving the Tigers' win.

DePauw opened the game with a defensive three-and-out series and, following a short Ohio Wesleyan punt, took over on the Bishops' 43. The Tigers drove to the 20, but Baumgartner's fumble at the 18 was recovered by the hosts.

Buza connected with Josh Hurst for a 14-yard score, but a second failed extra-point attempt left the score at 12-0. The Battling Bishops then scored on their next series with Jackson Gifford carrying for a 3-yard score with 2:41 remaining in the half to cap a 12-play, 92-yard drive.

McCahill completed 20-of-30 passes for 248 yards with three touchdowns and one interception with seven of those going to Ballentine for 82 yards. Moore caught four for 48 yards and Gabe Quigley also caught four for 55 yards.

Buza completed 19-of-30 for 201 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Hurst hauled in nine for 116 yards. 

Jake Comer led the DePauw defense with eight tackles and Jonathan Bruder had seven. Ryan and Brevon Gude each had one interception. Seth Anderson led Ohio Wesleyan with 14 tackles.

DePauw outgained Ohio Wesleyan, 302-300 including 248-192 through the air. The Tigers held Ohio Wesleyan to just three first downs and 67 yards of offense in the second half.

The Tigers travel to Kenyon on Saturday, Oct. 29, for a 1 p.m. NCAC game.

NOTES
The only larger comeback at halftime by a DePauw team came on October 7, 1989, at Anderson when the Tigers rallied from a 29-9 halftime hole. In that game, DePauw later trailed 36-7 in the third before winning 37-36.

With the win and Wittenberg's loss to Denison, the Tigers have moved back into a first-place tie with Wabash in the NCAC standings.

Nathan McCahill's 20 completions, 30 pass attempts, 248 passing yards and three touchdown passes were all career highs.