Mike Barnes tied the DU single-game rushing record with 270 yards against Kalamazoo. His 445 yards of total offense was the most by a DU player since 2000.

Denison senior quarterback Mike Barnes (Gates Mills, Ohio/Mayfield) rushed for a school-record tying 270 yards and three touchdowns while passing for 175 yards and another score, rallying the Big Red from an early deficit to a 49-27 victory over Kalamazoo College.

Barnes' 445 yards of total offense was the most by a Denison player since Greg Neuendorf's 470 yards versus Wabash College in 2000.  Even more amazing was his day running the football.  Barnes needed only 17 carries to tie Clay Sampson for the school's single-game rushing record which has stood since the 1979 season.

The Big Red offense started slowly, fumbling the first play from scrimmage which led to a Kalamazoo 1-yard touchdown run just 1:54 into the contest.  The Hornets would take a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter when Brandon Luczak found Cory McCain from 20-yards out.

On the ensuing possession, Barnes and the Big Red would begin to find their groove and that would come directly from the feet of the 2008 North Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Sprinter of the Year.  After four plays which moved DU into Kalamazoo territory, Barnes would jet up the middle for a 39-yard touchdown run which got Denison on the scoreboard, 14-7.

After a pair of defensive stops by the Big Red, DU would take over on the Kalamazoo 36 yard-line and Barnes would eventually hook up with senior Nick Thompson (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) for a 32-yard touchdown pass that was tipped by tight end Tyler Freriks (Norwalk, Ohio/Norwalk) at the 2-yard line to a waiting Thompson in the end zone.

This would start a 35-0 run for the Denison offense that would feature touchdown runs by Dan Crawford (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Jon Berg (Washington, Pa./Trinity).  It would also feature a 25-yard interception return by senior linebacker Joe Ulrey (Marengo, Ohio/Highland), only to be capped off by a 76-yard sprint by Barnes with 1:26 to play in the third quarter.  At this point DU had gone from a disappointing 14-0 deficit to a commanding 42-14 lead.

In the fourth quarter Kalamazoo would snap the Big Red's scoring streak as Adam Powers capped off a nine play, 64-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.  With 14:05 to play in the fourth quarter and trailing by 22 the Hornets were thinking comeback.  There to quell those comeback thoughts was Barnes who pounded the final nail into this season-opening victory with a spectacular 56-yard scamper which would tie the 29 year-old rushing record held by Sampson.

In all, the Denison offense racked up 542 yards of total offense.  Following Barnes in the rushing attack was Berg who carried the ball 10 times for 72 yards while reaching the end zone once.  Tight end Shawn Eagle (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) caught three passes for 46 yards and junior running back Nick Krempasky (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) also snagged three passes for 40 yards.  Barnes was 14-for-27 for 175 yards while spreading passes around to nine different DU receivers.

Defensively, Denison held Kalamazoo to just 41 yards rushing while allowing 270 yards passing.  Junior safety Caleb McFerren (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) led the team with six tackles.  First-year Griffin Clark (Marion, Ohio/Marion Plesant) had five tackles while senior linebacker Jim Minor (Washington, Pa./Trinity) recovered a fumble that was forced by senior Josh Hamperian (Lexington, Ky./Lafayette).

This marks the Big Red's first victory in a season opener since 2005.  It also improves their all-time record in season opening games to 62-47-10.  Denison will host the defending NCAC champion, Wabash College, next Saturday (Sept. 13) at 1 p.m. from Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.