Nick Krempasky (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) rushed for 148 yards and one touchdown and the Denison defense held Kenyon to six second-half points as the Big Red rallied for a 31-27 victory over Kenyon College on Saturday afternoon from McBride Field.

After both teams failed to score in the opening quarter of play, the second quarter saw the two teams combine for 35 points as Kenyon took a 21-14 lead into the locker room thanks to some big-plays by seniors Kyle Toot and Karry von Kann.  Kenyon's first scoring drive of the game was an impressive 11-play 99-yard drive that was finished off by a Toot 1-yard TD run.

The Big Red would tie the game with a 48-yard scoring drive anchored by the rushing abilities of junior Dan Crawford (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) who capped off the drive with a 7-yard scoring run.  After the ensuing kickoff it would take all of 43 seconds for the Lords to reclaim the lead thanks to a 56-yard touchdown run by Toot on the second play of the drive.

Denison would tie the game at 14-14 with 5:15 left in the quarter when freshman quarterback Nick Stephens (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey) hit Andy Carpenter (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) for a 41-yard touchdown pass.  That was Carpenter's second touchdown of the season, and both have been over 40-yards.

In similar fashion, only this time through the air, Kenyon's quick-strike ability was on full display.  On third down, quarterback Mike Hermanson hit von Kann for a 52-yard touchdown pass to give the Lords a 21-14 lead with 3:52 left in the half.

Still trailing in the third quarter after one offensive possession, Denison went to freshman quarterback Max Paulus (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) who hit senior Shawn Eagle (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) on a 34-yard pass to get Denison down to the Kenyon 5-yard line.  From there, Crawford would tie the game with his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon.

The Denison defense would respond with a stop and the offense took over with good field possession following a botched punt attempt by Kenyon's special teams.  Paulus started what would end up being a 14-play 55-yard drive with an 8-yard completion to Brandon Taylor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson).  Plenty of Krempasky along with two third down conversions and one, fourth down conversion would culminate with a 1-yard Krempasky plunge to give DU their first lead of the day at 28-21 with 12:14 left in the game.

The Denison defense would respond with two straight stops, and after taking over with just under seven minutes left, the offense went on a methodical 14-play drive that would end in a 22-yard Kevin Schneider (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) field goal with 47 seconds left on the clock to ice the victory for the Big Red.

After entering the game in the third quarter, Paulus finished the day 6 of 8 for 74 yards passing. He also rushed for 28 yards.  Stephens was 8 for 11 for 74 yards and one touchdown pass.

On the ground, the Big Red churned out 246 yards as Krempasky posted his season high in carries (34) and rushing yards (148).  His big day runs his season total to 773 yards with one game left, next week at Earlham.

Hermanson threw for 243 yards off 17 completions and his favorite target was von Kann who caught 10 passes for 174 yards.  Toot gained 131 yards off 14 carries to lead the Lords ground attack.

Defensivley, the Big Red posted six tackles for a loss.  Senior defensive end Drew Hanna (Hunting Valley, Ohio/University School) recorded one sack and the game's lone interception.  Senior linebacker Bill Aukerman (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led DU with eight tackles.  Kenyon was led by Justin Morgan and Dan Runnals who each recorded 14 tackle afternoons.

The Big Red improve to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.  They will host Earlham College next Saturday in the 2009 season finale.  Kickoff is schedule for 1 p.m.