The Wooster Scots knew the game against Wabash College last weekend would be tough even before they even took the field. Wabash, ranked No. 18 in the country, came into John P. Papp Stadium ready to play. Wooster took the lead early in the second quarter, but Wabash ended up being too much for the Scots to handle, as Wabash prevailed with a 37-27 win.
The first glimpse of victory came for the Scotts when Rob Holtz í13 blocked a Wabash punt which Kyle Murdock í11 managed to scoop up in the end zone for the score. This touchdown gave Wooster a 14-10 lead and a burst of energy going into the second quarter.
This lead was short lived as Wabashís Chase Belton threw a 53-yard touchdown only three plays later. The Scots could not score and went into the half trailing 17-14.
In the third quarter, Wooster stopped Wabashís first series, but a few plays after the punt, Jake Martin of the Little Giants picked the ball off and returned it to the Wooster nine-yard line. The third-down touchdown through the air put Wabash on the better end of a 24-14 score.
Wooster just could not seem to get anything going on offense in the second half. After three possessions with no first downs, Wabash went to work again near midfield. The Little Giants capped this 48-yard drive off with a 17-yard touchdown through the air, giving Wabash a 31-14 lead.
In response to the score, Austin Holter í10 led the team down the field completing five passes, including a touchdown to Jordan McIntyre í13.
Wabash put a cap on the game with a 30-yard screen pass touchdown to end an 87-yard drive and increase the Little Giant lead to 37-21.
After Wooster turned the ball over on downs, Matt DeGrand í10 came up big for the defense, sacking and stripping Belton, and giving the offense one last chance. Seven plays later Wooster struck again, but failed to convert the two-point attempt.
After the failed two-point conversion, Wooster managed to recover their onside kick attempt, putting the offense on the field yet again. However the offense did not manage to get a single first down, and ended up losing yards on the drive.
Offensively Wooster had a decent game with the exeption of turnovers. Robert Flagg í12 had 62 yards on 13 rushes, and also pulled in five receptions for 32 yards. Wabash had too many weapons on offense for the Scots to stop. Even with an unexperienced quarterback making his first collegiate start, Wabash receiver Kody Lemond had nearly 200 yards on 10 receptions and four touchdowns.
Wooster is now 4-3 (3-1 NCAC), and despite having lost three games, they still have a chance at the NCAC championship. The Scots will travel to NCAC opponent Allegheny College† (6-1, 3-1) tomorrow for a must win game against the Gators. The Scots must follow this weekendís game with a victory against Oberlin College Nov. 7 at home, and arch-rival Wittenberg University to finish off the season in Springfield, Ohio on Nov. 14.