After starting the season with a paltry 0-2 record, the Fighting Scots rallied off their next three wins to advance to 3-2 and looked like real contenders for the NCAC crown.† But, hard times are here again as the Scots have found themselves back below .500 and needing to win out to keep their NCAC title hopes alive.† On Oct. 16, Washington University in St. Louis came to John P. Papp stadium fresh off an impressive win over Wabash College and was looking to knock off another traditional NCAC power.† It was a defensive battle with some late excitement, but unfortunately Wash. U. came out on top in a low scoring affair, winning 14-13.
The game started off great for Wooster as the defense hounded Wash. U. in St. Louis quarterback Steve Sherman into throwing interceptions on the second and third drives of the day.† But the Scots’ offense, which had been dynamic during its winning streak, was unable to capitalize on the good field position.† The Scots found the end zone a bit later in the first quarter, when Richard Barnes ’14 found Mike Redick ’11 in the end zone to take a 7-0 lead.† Wash. U. wasn’t shaken by the early touchdown as it put together their best drive of the day to tie the game.† It would remain that way until the fourth quarter when Wash. U. turned an interception from Richard Barnes into a 72-yard touchdown drive to put Wash U. up 14-7.† But, with eight minutes remaining, Barnes and the Scot offense were able to put together a touchdown drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown from Barnes to Jordan McIntyre ’13 to make it 14-13.
A missed extra point by Ryan Minor ’13 kept the Scots down by one with three minutes to go.† Luckily, the Scots’ defense forced a punt and got the ball back with two minutes left.† Wooster was able to move the ball up the field until a miscommunication on a handoff between Barnes and running back Brandon Taylor ’14 ended up in a fumble recovered by Wash. U. to end the game.
It was a defensive battle all day as each team had problems finding the end zone.
The biggest problem for the Scots wasn’t the Wash. U. defense, it was their own mistakes. Wooster had three turnovers, and also had 100 yards worth of penalties, including two big ones on their final drive.† Barnes had a solid game, going 21-32 with 179 yards passing with two touchdowns and also led the Scots in rushing yards with 72 yards on 17 carries.† Redick hauled in eight catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.† Defensively, Matt Breidigam ’12 and Rob Holtz ’13 each had interceptions, and Eric Keyes ’11 led the defense with 10 tackles.
Penalties were also costly against Case Western Reserve University. Case Western has had Wooster’s number the last few years, especially last season, when the Spartans handed the Scots their first loss at a night game, 53-32.
The Scots were the underdogs coming into last weeks game, as the Spartans sat nicely at 6-0 and had won its last 37 regular season games.† The game started out rough, as Case Western jumped out to a 21-7 lead before halftime as Case Western quarterback Joey Baum threw three touchdowns in the first half.† Wooster would score the lone points of the third quarter on a two-yard touchdown run.
Coming into the fourth quarter, Wooster was down by seven and looking to push for another score when the Scots again committed late mistakes.
After forcing a three and out, the Scots were back to receive the punt.† Taylor Trout ’12 fair caught the ball at about the 50-yard line, giving Wooster great field position, or it would’ve been great field position had the Scots not committed a roughing the kicker penalty which gave Case Western a second chance that they did not waste, driving from their own nine yard line for a 91-yard touchdown drive to make the score 28-14.
Wooster wouldn’t challenge offensively again, and that’s how the game ended.† Barnes again looked solid going 24-for-35 with one interception for 159 yards and one touchdown.† It was a big day for Redick with his six catches for 59 yards, he became only the thirteenth wide receiver in school history to have 1,000 career receiving yards. Keyes piled up 17 tackles and one fumble.
Next week, the Scots continue their conference schedule against 1-6 Hiram University at home.† This is the start of a three-game homestand to end the season.† Wooster is currently in fourth place in the NCAC behind Wittenberg University (8-0, 4-0 NCAC), Wabash University (6-1, 4-0 NCAC), and Allegheny College (5-2, 3-1 NCAC).