The Rensselaer Bombers football team soundly defeated the visiting Oracles on senior night by a 47-0 score. Delphi achieved eight first downs compared to the Bombers’ 18 and was nearly out gained in yardage by a three to one margin.

Using the old Wing-T offense the Bombers pushed the outsized Oracles off the line of scrimmage time-after-time to start the game. On their first drive Rensselaer appeared to be headed toward an early touchdown when Karson Bender intercepted a pass in the end zone to stifle the hosts. Bender’s heroics only delayed the score though, because Rensselaer then moved the ball 46 yards in four plays to take a 7-0 lead. Tanner Cripe was intercepted late in the first quarter to set up the Bombers’ second TD. A 60-yard drive, all on the ground, and Delphi was behind 14-0 early in the second.

For the fourth time in a row the Oracles were unable to generate a first down and punted. Rensselaer moved 65 yards on 13 plays and the Oracles were behind by three TDs (21-0). The Oracles were finally able get the offense untracked a little right before the half. A big run by Braden Atwood and going 4 of 6 in passing allowed the Oracles to gain three firsts and move the ball 75 yards before time on the clock forced a field goal try from 28 yards sailed wide left. That left the score at 21-0 at the half.

The story didn’t change much in the third quarter. While the Oracles were able to move the ball better on offense they couldn’t put together a drive long enough to get them on the scoreboard. Delphi’s two possessions resulted in turnovers, the first time on downs and the second time when another Cripe pass was picked off. Meanwhile Rensselaer was able to run up two more TDs.

The final quarter looked a lot like the first three, with the Oracle offense unable to move the ball consistently and the defense, with so many players playing both ways tiring against the much bigger Bombers, giving up two more TDs.

The Oracles fall to 2-5 for the season (1-4 conference) and return home for the remainder of the schedule with home games against Benton Central on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. and Tipton on the 16th for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.