By: Andrew Korba

GAMBIER, Ohio -- Sophomore Danny Robinson (Labelle, Fla.) had a 60-yard receiving touchdown and added a 53-yard touchdown run, but the Hiram College football team fell in its NCAC opener at Kenyon by a 34-17 score on Saturday.

The Terriers are now 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in the NCAC, while the Lords improve to 1-2, 1-0.

Robinson finished with 132 yards on the ground on 17 carries. He also finished with three catches for 64 yards. His 60-yard touchdown reception was a new career-best.

Sophomore Alec Wells (Aurora, Ohio) completed 16 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown. Senior Nate Eaton (South Euclid, Ohio/Walnut Ridge) had six catches for 92 yards and senior Jaylen Dinard (Tampa, Fla./Paul R. Wharton) had 48 yards receiving.

The Lords would stop Hiram on the games opening possession and would put together a drive. The Lords' Jake Bates rushed down to the three yardline and fumbled forward into the endzone. Brian Hunca of Kenyon was able to fall on the ball in the endzone for the touchdown. The Lords would convert a two-point conversion to take a early 8-0 lead.

Kenyon would force a Hiram turnover on its next possession and converted a 21-yard field goal for a 11-0 lead.

The Terriers would get on the board with 1:37 left in the first quarter when Wells hooked up with Robinson for the 60-yard touchdown, making the score 11-7 in favor of the Lords.

Kenyon would expand its lead in the second quarter when Blake Calcei punched it in from four yards out to make the score 17-7 with 7:04 left in the first half. Calcei finished the contest with 143 yards rushing.

Hiram was able to trim the lead to 17-10 late in the first half on a 40-yard field goal by sophomore Sam Conway (Wickliffe, Ohio).

In the second half, the Lords marched down the field and converted a 29-yard field goal to make the score 20-10.

But Robinson came right back and capped off a four-play, 63-yard drive with his 53-yard touchdown run to make the score 20-17 with 8:07 remaining in the third.

In the fourth, Bates would score for the Lords from a yard out to make the score 27-17.

After Hiram would come up empty on its next possession, the Lords were on the verge of putting the game away. But junior Zayd Mabin (Lehigh Acres, Fla./Winter Haven) would force a fumble that senior Zachary Bennett (Newark, Ohio) would fall on with 3:58 left to play.

But the Terriers drive would stall and the Lords added a late touchdown.

On defense, junior Kyle Burchett (Fairport Harbor, Ohio/Harding) tallied 16 tackles, while senior Ronnie Jones (Aurora, Ohio/Roosevelt) had nine tackles and three pass breakups.

The Terriers went 6-of-16 (38.0 percent) on third downs, but were 0-for-2 on fourth down tries.

Hiram will return home and host DePauw (Ind.) on Saturday at 1 p.m.