Terre Haute, Ind. - DePauw scored on three of its first four possessions of the 2023 season, but Rose-Hulman took a lead into the halftime before the Tigers rallied with a pair of second-half touchdowns for a 33-21 win in the season opener for both schools.
DePauw's defense held Rose-Hulman to just 11 total yards in the first quarter and no first downs while building a 13-0 lead.
After a three-and-out defensive stand on the opening drive of the game, DePauw struck first as
Nathan McCahill completed a pass to
Jaylon Smith who scampered for a 45-yard score to cap a 3-play drive.
Another three-and-out followed for the DePauw defense before McCahill teamed with
Gabe Quigley for a 55-yard score to make it 13-0 with 8:31 left in the first.
DePauw's defense again forced a Rose-Hulman punt and the offense picked up four first downs before being forced to punt, its only one of the game, on the final play of the opening stanza.
The Fightin' Engineers seemed to have new life with the new quarter as they drove 85 yards in 13 plays with Miguel Robertson teaming with Jailen Hobbs for an 11-yard score to made it 13-7 with 10:53 remaining in the half.
Caden Whitehead's 46-yard kickoff return to the Tigers' 47 gave DePauw excellent field position and the Tigers needed eight plays to get on the board again as
Gus Baumgartner scored on a 1-yard run with 6:43 left in the half to make it 20-7.
The Fightin' Engineers countered with another long drive as they used 10 plays to cover 75 yards with Robertson and Hobbs again connecting with a 3-yard touchdown pass with 3:01 left in the half to cut the DePauw lead to 20-13.
Rose-Hulman's Adam Field picked off McCahill at the Rose-Hulman 25 on the fourth play of DePauw's ensuing drive and the hosts took their first lead of the game after Robertson connected with Chase Wilkinson for a 39-yard score and Kyle Rehberg booted the extra-point with 49 seconds remaining.
Whitehead again gave the Tigers excellent field position with a 41-yard kickoff return and DePauw drove to the Rose-Hulman 29 before
Ben Gomez attempted a 46-yard field goal that was off the mark.
DePauw took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched down the field with Baumgartner giving the Tigers the lead for good at 26-21 with a 5-yard run with 11:47 left in the third.
The Tigers'
Cortez Stoudemire picked off Robertson to end a Rose-Hulman threat on its opening drive of the second half. The Tigers drove to the Engineers' 33, but couldn't convert on fourth down.Â
DePauw possessed the pigskin at the beginning of the fourth but a bad snap was recovered by Rose-Hulman's Jack LeCrone at the Tigers' 8-yard line.
Poised to regain the lead, Robertson was intercepted by Stoudemire at the DePauw 5 on the first play of the drive.Â
The Tigers then drove 95 yards in 14 plays and 6:30 with McCahill tossing a 21-yard strike to
Robby Ballentine on fourth-and-seven to make it 33-21 with 7:30 left in the contest.
After forcing Rose-Hulman to punt, the DePauw offense kept the ball for 4:14, but were unsuccessful on a 30-yard field goal.Â
Robertson completed a 21-yard pass on first down, but four straight incomplete passes gave DePauw the ball as the Tigers sealed the win.
Baumgartner rushed for 122 yards on 25 carries, while Whitehead had 83 yards on 12 tries.
McCahill completed 17 of 30 passes for 276 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Quigley and Whitehead each caught for passes for 85 and 39 yards, respectively.
Grant Ripperda rushed for 45 yards on 12 carries, while Robertson completed 25 of 37 passes for 202 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Daniel Huery caught 13 for 85 yards.
Jake Comer and
Luke Marsh each recorded nine tackles with Comer having two tackles for losses totaling nine yards.
Kayden Pierre totaled 11 tackles for Rose-Hulman with Field adding 10.Â
The Tigers outgained Rose-Hulman 510-268 including 234-66 on the ground. DePauw also held an edge in first downs, 30-16.
DePauw opens the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, Sept. 9, with a 1 p.m. game against Anderson at Blackstock Stadium.
