ADA, Ohio (September 4, 2021) – The 2021 Denison University football season opener resulted in a tough 34-10 loss for the Big Red on the road at Ohio Northern University.

After a stop on fourth-and-one by the Denison (0-1 overall) defense followed by a 39-yard touchdown pass from Drew Dawkins to DJ Johnson tied the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter, Ohio Northern (1-0) proceeded to score 21 unanswered points in the second quarter before a 37-yard Big Red field goal by Pat Kramer with only 10 seconds left before halftime.

In the second half, Denison's four drives before the end of the game finished with a turnover on downs at the ONU 38-yard line, a three-and-out and a punt from its own 23-yard line, a fumble on the first play of the drive from its own 21-yard line late in the third quarter, and a fumble at the ONU 12-yard line early in the fourth quarter, all before an 11-and-a-half minute drive by the Polar Bears to milk the clock down to the waning seconds.

ONU outgained Denison 355-219 in total offense and held the ball for 34:05 of the game.

Dawkins was 8-for-21 passing for 101 yards while adding 14 rushes for 29 yards. Seven of Dawkins' eight completions went to Johnson, who finished with 90 receiving yards. Trey Fabrocini rushed 14 times for 49 yards while Andrew Blanchard carried the ball nine times for 41 yards, good for an average of 4.6 yards per rush.

Leading the Denison defensive effort was Jeff Moore with 15 tackles and Griffin Green with 12. Francis Fay added eight tackles while Ryan Hallinan and Cory Swartzmiller both had six.

Next up for Denison football will be both its 2021 home opener and North Coast Athletic Conference opener as the Big Red host Allegheny College at 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 11, inside Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.