The rivalry for the Old Red Lantern hasnít been much of a rivalry of late, with the Fighting Scots winning the last eight meetings against Denison University, and they had little trouble making it nine on Saturday.† The game was postponed for a half hour due to lightning, but it didnít stop the Fighting Scots (2-1, 2-0 NCAC) from showing why their offense ranks in the top 30 in Div. III on Saturday.
The Scots were led by a fantastic performance from Austin Holter í10, who totaled 345 yards of total offense and two touchdowns.† Holter was 21-for-36 with one touchdown, and 229 yards passing; he rushed for a career high 116 yards and one touchdown.† Jordan McIntyre í13 scored the other touchdown on a 16-yard rush to cap a 78-yard drive in the first quarter.† The Scotsí receiving core looked great as well, with tight-end Cameron Daniels í12 catching four passes for 46 yards.† Mike Redick í11 also had a good game, catching three passes for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Mike Francescangeli í10 and Logan Dunn í12 both had catches for more than 20 yards. Overall the Scot offense looked dominant; turnovers were kept to a minimum and both the passing and rushing attack were firing on all cylinders.
The defense had a great game as well, holding Denison (1-2, 0-2 NCAC) to only one touchdown.† Linebacker Steve Custenborder í11 had a great game with 12 tackles, one sack and one fumble.† Linebacker Matt DeGrand í10 had 12 tackles and forced a fumble that led to a Wooster touchdown.† Defensive end Chris Wade í10 also had a good game with nine tackles and 1.5 sacks.† Denison† could not do anything against the Scot defense which forced the Big Red to punt or turnover the ball on all but one possession.† The Scots continued to bring the intensity on third down as well, holding Denison to only 2-of-14 on third down conversions.
Denison could not get much going on offense, as Big Red quarterback Braden Layer was only 5-for-12 for 37 yards and was sacked three times.†† The only bright spot for the Big Red was running back Nick Krempasky who ran for 109 yards and one touchdown.† The defense has picked up since the loss to Waynesburg University.† In that game, the Scot defense allowed 42 points to the Yellow Jackets.† Since then the Scots have only allowed 27 combined points in their last two games.
In that same stretch, opposing teams are only 10-for-28 on third down conversions.†† A concern for the Scots in upcoming games may be run defense, their only consistent trouble spot.† In their first three games the Scots have allowed 192 yards per game, which places them second to last in the NCAC.† With games later this season against the two leading rush offenses in the NCAC, Wittenberg University and Wabash College, the Scots will have to do something to stop the oppositionís rushing attack.
Tomorrow, the Scots will continue conference play against the Earlham College Quakers at home.† Earlham has started the season 2-1 and the trip to John P. Papp stadium will mark their first NCAC action.
The Scotsí defense will have to keep a close eye on Earlham quarterback Dorian Jenkins, who is coming off a game in which he threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns, while also running for 77 yards and two more scores. †Jenkins is currently sixth in conference in passing yards with 628, averaging† 209 yards per game.† The Scotsí defense should be prepared, as they face Holter every day in practice.