Nick Krempasky (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) rushed for 136 yards and senior linebacker Bill Aukerman (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) returned an interception 64-yards for a touchdown with 7:24 to play, sending Denison to a season-opening 37-20 victory over Kalamazoo College at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.

Krempasky finished the day with 25 carries for 136 yards and one touchdown.  It was the third 100-yard rushing game of his career and just 20-yards shy of his single-game high set last season against Kenyon.  Sophomore quarterback Braden Layer (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) looked sharp in his first collegiate start.  Layer finished 9-for-18 with 214 yards and two touchdowns while completing three passes of 41-yards or more.

With 12:27 to play in the fourth quarter, Kalamazoo quarterback Brandon Luczak hooked up with Jimmy Semelsberger for a 16-yard touchdown pass to get the Hornets to within 10 points at 30-20.  The Kalamazoo defense countered with a quick three-and-out and took over possession on the 50-yard line.  With Luczak taking snaps exclusively out of the shotgun formation while operating with a no-huddle offense he began his comeback attempt.

The drive started with a 9-yard completion to Stephen Johnston and he followed that with a 12-yard completion to Semelsberger.  With the ball on the Denison 29-yard line and a fresh set of downs, Luczak's first down throw was dropped near the 15 yard line.  On second down, the Big Red defense brought pressure and Luczak's pass went right into the waiting arms of Aukerman who chugged 64-yards down the left sideline for the game-clinching touchdown.  It was his first career interception and first touchdown for the fourth-year linebacker.  It also marked the second straight season a DU linebacker returned an interception for a touchdown against Kalamazoo.  Last year, Joe Ulrey returned an errant Luczak pass 25-yards for a score.

A strong start was imperative for the Big Red defense who struggled early in games in 2008.  On the first play of their second drive of the game, Layer dropped back and found Andy Carpenter (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) in stride for a 65-yard touchdown pass.  It was the longest pass from scrimmage for a Denison quarterback and receiver since Larry Cappetto hit Frank Roe for a 71-yard TD in 2005.

Layer would continue to show off his strong arm with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Graham (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) in the third quarter. Earlier in that period he found senior Brandon Taylor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) for a 41-yard gain.  Layer finished the day by averaging 23.7 yards per completion.  Carpenter led DU in receiving with two catches for 99 yards.  Following Krempasky on the ground was first-year Yandy Plasencia (Miami, Fla./Ferguson) who gained 73 yards off just eight carries.

Junior placekicker Kevin Schneider (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) also added a career-high three field goals in the win.  He connected from 39, 20 and 19 while missing from 39 yards out in the third quarter.  He was also 3 for 3 on point after attempts.

Luczak went 34 for 56 for 408 yards and two touchdowns.  Cory Mcain caught nine passes for 136 yards and Semelsberger had eight catches for 108 yards.  The Denison defense sacked Luczak three times and shut down their rushing game.  Off 21 carries the Hornets were held to -6 yards rushing.  Leading that defense was senior safety Drew Homyk (Chicago, Ill./St. Ignatius Prep) who posted 10 tackles.  Junior cornerback Nick Weiss (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) had seven tackles and defensive end Drew Hanna (Hunting Valley, Ohio/University School) led the way with 1 1/2 sacks.

The Denison offense ended the day with 489 yards of total offense.  They rushed for 275 yards as a team and are now 23-0 when they gain over 200 yards rushing as a team under head coach Nick Fletcher.

The Big Red will hit the road next week (Sept. 12) for a key North Coast Athletic Conference match-up with No. 18 Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind.