GRANVILLE--  For the fifth-straight season, the Denison-Ohio Wesleyan rivalry game was decided by a touchdown or less.  For the fourth-straight season, the Big Red prevailed, winning 21-14 on Saturday at Piper Stadium.

Efficient has been the best word to describe the Big Red through the first four games of 2016.  Sophomore quarterback Canaan Gebele has not thrown an interception in 115 attempts and the team has only committed two turnovers all season.

The efficiency started early as the Big Red defense kept its offense on the field.  Ohio Wesleyan did not log a first down until the final minute of the first quarter.  One drive earlier, Denison capped off a four play 50-yard series with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Gebele to David Weimar to take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.

On the first drive of the second quarter, Gebele connected with Weimar on another 21-yard scoring strike, putting his squad on top, 14-0.

Early in the third quarter, Ohio Wesleyan put together its best drive of the game behind senior quarterback Dominick Orsini.  Despite not getting the start, Orsini entered the game in the second quarter and provided an immediate lift to the struggling offense.  On second and 19, Orsini found Tim Shadoan down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown cutting the DU lead to 14-7.

The Battling Bishops defense forced a three-and-out and took over on their 39-yard line.  After an incompletion by Orsini on third down was broken up by senior safety Andrew Baird, Shadoan was called on to attempt a 33-yard field goal.  Denison's special teams answered the call as Hayden Hatten and Joel Lohoua came around the edge for the block, giving the Big Red the ball on their 30-yard line.

The momentum shift was not felt on this drive, but the field position game was impacted thanks to 33-yard punt by Weimar that rolled out-of-bounds at the OWU 8-yard line.

The Bishops gained just two yards on their ensuing drive and a 28-yard punt return by Denison's David Carter had DU knocking on the door.

On second down from the OWU 17, Gebele rolled to his right and threw a strike across his body to Richard Wehman III for the touchdown.

Entering the fourth quarter, leading 21-7, Denison orchestrated a plodding 13-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a missed field goal from 19-yards.  Ohio Wesleyan took over on the 20 and answered with an 11-play 80-yard drive capped off by an Orsini TD pass to Ross Hickenbottom with just over four minutes to play in the game.

The Bishops needed a quick stop for a chance to tie the game.  Facing a third-and-12 on their own 28-yard line, Gebele kept the chains and the clock moving with a 16-yard pass to Charlie Mueller.  Three plays later, on third-and-six from midfield, Matt Iammarino made a spectacular one-handed grab that allowed Denison to run out the clock and win the game.

The offense was timely all afternoon but the defense was stout, forcing OWU into one turnover and eight punts.  Baird broke his own Denison record for tackles in a game with 25.  Sixteen were assisted and nine were solo.  He also had one pass break-up. Entering the day, the most tackles recorded by a player this season in Division III football was 23 by D.J. Logory of St. John Fisher. Anthony Sernus followed with 12 tackles while Nate Keirn posted three tackles-for-a-loss and one sack.  Ryan Zinkula recorded the game's only interception while leading the way with four passes defended.

Weimar finished with his third 100-yard receiving game of the season, hauling in eight passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.  Gebele was 19-of-29 for 256 yards and three touchdown passes.  He also rushed for 84 yards on 23 carries.  Cody Farley followed with 68 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Weimar was equally impressive in the punting game, averaging 33.5 yards per punt while placing OWU inside their own 20-yard line on four of his six attempts.

Orsini led Ohio Wesleyan (1-3, 1-2 NCAC) with 102 yards passing and 59 yards rushing while playing slightly over half of the game at quarterback.  The starting QB, Jax Harville, was 6-of-15 for 33 yards.

 The victory marks the first time since 1981 that a Denison senior class will graduate with four wins over Ohio Wesleyan.  With the win, Denison head coach Jack Hatem moved into third place on Denison's career victories list with 37. Next week, Denison (4-0, 3-0 NCAC) will travel to Hiram for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Terriers.