Terre Haute, Ind. - DePauw scored 21 straight points in the third quarter to overcome a nine-point deficit on the way to a 31-23 victory at Rose-Hulman in the season opener for both schools.
DePauw's defense started the game with a three-and-out and the offense embarked on an 8-play, 82-yard drive capped by
Carson Johnson's 38-yard run on third down to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 10:14 left in the quarter.
Rose-Hulman responded with an 11-play, 78-yard series with Brock Zanetell tossing a 19-yard pass to Drew Dalton to even the score at 7-7 with 5:49 remaining in the stanza.
The Fightin' Engineers recovered a fumble on DePauw's third play of the ensuing possession and the hosts turned it into a 47-yard field goal by Cohen Peters to take a 10-7 lead with 2:03 left in the first.
Rose-Hulman extended the lead to 16-7 with 49 seconds left in the half as Zanetell teamed with Avery Cody for a 10-yard scoring pass that wrapped up a 10-play, 85-yard drive.
DePauw quickly drove to the Rose-Hulman 19, but
Matthew Berry's 37-yard field goal attempt as time expired glanced off the left upright.
The Tigers regained the momentum on their first drive of the third with Scott Balletnine connecting with
Carter Foran for an 8-yard score at the 12:32 mark.
DePauw forced a Rose-Hulman punt and then needed just four plays to cover 55 yards with
Logan Shoffner scoring on a 2-yard run. The score was set up by Ballentine's 38-yard pass to an outstretched Foran on the second play of the drive.
Later in the third, DePauw's
Gray Schmittel gathered a Rose-Hulman punt at his own 18 and streaked down the left sideline for an 82-yard return that pushed DePauw's lead to 28-16 with 52 seconds remaining in the third.
Rose-Hulman countered quickly as Zantelli scored on a 1-yard run to conclude a 7-play, 76-yard possession that brought the Fightin' Engineers to within five at 28-23 with 12:40 left.
The teams exchanged punts before DePauw pushed the lead to 31-23 on Berry's 39-yard field goal with 4:25 remaining.
The hosts drove to the DePauw 35 on the next drive, but the Tigers stopped them on downs and took over with 1:44 left. The Tigers were unable to pick up a first down and punted, but a sack forced the Fightin' Engineers to fumble and DePauw's
Chris Green recovered to secure the win.
Johnson rushed for a career-high 148 yards on 20 carries, while Ballentine completed 13-of-23 passes for 167 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Foran hauled in four catches for 79 yards and
Palmer Samuels caught four for 36 yards.
Zanetell rushed for 53 yards on 16 tries for Rose-Hulman and completed 27-of-47 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Alexander Marsteller caught seven passes for 44 yards with Cody catching five for 100 yards.
Jackson Cain and
Harry Pratt each totaled six tackles for the Tigers, while Joseph Coveliers recorded 12 for Rose-Hulman.
DePauw opens North Coast Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Sept., 12, with a 1 p.m. CDT game at WashU.
