RICHMOND, Ind. — Saturday was not only Homecoming, but it was also Senior Day for the Earlham College football team.

Defiance College posted a 45-21 victory in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest in Darrell Beane Stadium.

Earlham began the afternoon with a 14-7 advantage after the first quarter.

Brennan Laird capped a 7-play, 76-yard drive with a 1-yard run for the first touchdown at 7:36.

After the Yellow Jackets (2-5, 2-3) tied the game, Laird hooked up with Wesley Hundley for a 38-yard touchdown pass to put the Quakers on top 14-7.

Defiance scored twice in the second period with a touchdown and a field goal to hold a 17-14 lead by the intermission.

In the third stanza, Defiance built a 24-14 lead before Laird hit Marcaus Cooper with an 8-yard scoring strike to cut the deficit to 24-21 at the 1:25 mark.

The Yellow Jackets scored three times in the final quarter to earn the win.

Laird completed 22-of-39 passes for 245 yards with a pair of touchdowns. On the ground, Laird led the way with 72 yards on 19 carries.

Jalen Kenner led the Quakers with eight receptions, but he was held to 35 yards. Cooper finished with six catches for 65 yards, while Hundley had five grabs for a team-high 99 yards.  

Alec Dews, Ishmael MacNeil, David Dyer and Junior Jean led the Earlham defense with seven tackles each. Lajay Kelly added an interception.

Prior to the game, Ryan Acosta, Zane Foster, Cody Miller, Tre Stephens and Kollin Wheat were recognized on Senior Day for their efforts with the Earlham football program.

The Quakers (0-8, 0-6) are on the road next Saturday at Hanover College. The HCAC game gets underway at 1:30 p.m.