Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw held visiting Ohio Wesleyan to minus 32 rushing yards and outgained the Battling Bishops, 392-162, on the way to a 28-7 North Coast Athletic Conference win. The Tigers, tied for 25th in the first Division III coaches' poll of the season, moved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the NCAC, while Ohio Wesleyan dropped to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

The Tigers needed just three plays to reach paydirt at Robby Ballentine scored on a 50-yard pass play from Nathan McCahill with 13:42 left in the first quarter. 

On the ensuing drive, Ohio Wesleyan used 10 plays to cover 72 yards including two third-down conversions before Kaden Buza teamed with Tyler Webb for a 6-yard score to even the count at 7-7 with 8:28 remaining in the first.

DePauw's Matthew Berry missed on a 32-yard field goal try on the Tigers' next possession, but the guests couldn't capitalize. 

Midway through the second, the Battling Bishops downed a punt at the DePauw 3 and the Tigers embarked on a 16-play, 76-yard drive that used 7:29 but stalled at the Ohio Wesleyan 21. 

The Battling Bishops were forced to punt after DePauw's defense made a stand. A high snap followed by a punt that Jonathan Bruder gathered at the the Bishops' 10 and returned to the 4 set up McCahill's 3-yard scoring pass to Caden Whitehead with 14 seconds left in the half.

Ohio Wesleyan took the second-half kickoff and drove to the DePauw 21, but Sean Putt's 38-yard field goal was off the mark. DePauw responded with a 10-play, 79-yard series as Gus Baumgartner scored on a 5-yard run to make it 21-7 with 7:21 left in the third.

Bruder's interception late in the third at the DePauw 31 ended another Ohio Wesleyan drive and the offense turned it into another score as receiver Gabe Quigley tossed a 28-yard pass to Ballentine to push the led to 28-7 with 13:16 remaining in the game.

The teams traded turnovers on their next possessions and the Tigers held on for the win.

Baumgartner led DePauw with 106 rushing yards on 25 carries, while Jakii Alston paced Ohio Wesleyan with 14 yards on two tries. The Tigers held a 216-(-32) edge on the ground.

McCahill completed 13-of-25 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns, while Buza was 20-of-35 for 194 yards and one score.

Ballentine caught five passes for 116 yards and two scores and Josh Hurst led the Battling Biships with eight grabs for 108 yards.

Bruder led DePauw with seven tackles including a sack and an interception, while Luke Marsh had six stops. Ethan Lowry and Luke Nolan also added sacks.

Drew Thornton paced Ohio Wesleyan with 13 tackles, while Bryar Ramey had nine along with an interceptions. Marquel Henry and Jack Novak each had one sack.

DePauw returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 30, with a 1 p.m. NCAC game at Oberlin.