The Fighting Scots are looking to start off this season the same way as last season.
The College of Wooster football team kicks off its 2009 campaign against the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets on Saturday in this seasonís home opener.† Waynesburg, who have only beaten the Scots once in the history of this series, are coming off what can be described as an average season (5-5), seeking revenge for a 27-6 defeat from the Scots during last seasonís opener.
The main story line for the Scotsí offense this week is Austin Holter í10, who last year single-handedly picked apart the Waynesburg defense, for over 100 yards through the air and on the ground, with 248 yards total, as well as three touchdowns (two passing, one running).† Holter, who is starting for his third straight season, will need to find a way to elude the Yellow Jacket defense once again, assuming he will have eyes on him the entire game.
A player to keep your eyes on while the Scots are on offense is Mike Francescangeli í10, who totaled five grabs for 40 yards and a score in last seasonís match-up.† If the defense finally finds a way to keep Holter in the pocket, Francescangeli should be the go-to guy to work the Scots down the field.
On the other side of the ball, the Scotsí defense will be looking to replicate its success from last season against Waynesburgís running game.† Although it is no longer led by former All-American running back Robert Heller, the Yellow Jackets still have a formidable one-two punch in the likes of junior Billy Becker and sophomore Justin Falcon.† Becker and Falcon, who took over for Heller after the first game of last season, totaled a combined 238 carries for 1055 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Scots willl also need to keep an eye on is the brand-new Waynesburg passing game.† Led by junior quarterback Brad Dawson, the Yellow Jackets have decided to make a switch from a pure power running offense to a spread offense that favors passing the ball to any number of players.† With Dawsonís tendency to miss his receivers (finishing last year with only a 55% completion rating), this system should allow him to find one of his many talented receivers without too much trouble.
This game will also mark the unveiling of the new Sprinturf, which was installed over the summer.††† This turf was deemed necessary after the ìMud Bowl” against Wittenberg last season, which turned the field into a mud pit.
The season opens up tomorrow at John P. Papp stadium.† The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.