Football fails to end the 2011 season on a high note
Travis Marmon
Sports Editor
After winning two consecutive games by wide margins, The College of Wooster football team ended its season on a low note last Saturday, falling to archrival Wittenberg University 42-21 in Springfield, Ohio.
The Tigers (8-2, 5-1 NCAC) got on the board early after quarterback Ben Zoeller connected on a 31-yard pass to get to Wooster’s goal line. Following an illegal formation penalty that pushed Wittenberg back to the six-yard line, Reed Florence ran in for a score to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game. The score remained that way for the rest of the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Fighting Scots (4-6, 3-3 NCAC) found themselves in a punting situation from their own 19-yard line. The kick was blocked, and Wittenberg’s Hunter Hendershot recovered the ball and took it 10 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers missed on the extra point attempt, but still had Wooster in a 13-0 hole.
The Scots did not back down so early, however. On the ensuing drive, quarterback Brett Frongillo ’14 took a 39-yard rush to the Wittenberg 10-yard line. The following play lost two yards, but Frongillo then found Cameron Daniels ’12 in the endzone to narrow the deficit to 13-7.
The Tigers drove to Wooster’s 15-yard line on the next possession, but a 32-yard field goal attempt was missed, giving the Scots more momentum. However, Wittenberg’s defense stepped up, forcing Wooster to go three-and-out after getting the ball back. The Tigers’ five-play drive following the punt consisted of five completions from Zoeller, ending with a six-yard touchdown pass to Josh McKee to increase their lead to 20-7 going into halftime.
Wittenberg had the ball to start the second half, and took another six minutes off the clock with a 14-play, 67-yard drive that was keyed by a 20-yard pass from Zoeller to McKee on third-and-15 from the Wittenberg 47-yard line. The drive ended when Florence found Michael Cooper for a three-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 27-7.
The Scots wasted no time in countering. Robert Flagg ’12 found a hole in the Tiger defense and took a Frongillo pass 71 yards to the endzone on Wooster’s longest play of the season. The Scots were right back in the game, down 27-14 and forcing a punt on Wittenberg’s next drive. Unfortunately, Wooster could not capitalize after getting into the Tigers’ territory, punting it right back after Frongillo was sacked on two plays in a row.
Wittenberg opened its next possession with four straight runs from Corey Weber. With the Scots looking to stop the run, Zoeller hit McKee for a 68-yard touchdown pass to give his team a 34-14 advantage late in the third quarter.
Big plays fueled Wooster’s next drive, starting with a 14-yard rush from Frongillo. Four plays later, a 21-yard pass from Frongillo to Daniels got the ball into the red zone. Two plays after that, Flagg took the ball in from 16 yards out to narrow the gap to 34-21.
Following that touchdown, Wittenberg ended any hopes of a comeback after Zoeller’s third-down pass went for 29-yards to the Wooster five-yard line. Florence scored on a three-yard carry, and the Tigers converted a successful two-point attempt to take a 42-21 lead with under 11 minutes left in the game.
Wittenberg outgained Wooster 512-319. Zoeller went 20-of-32 for 337 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to McKee, who had 10 receptions and 199 yards on the day. The Tigers finished their season at second place in the NCAC, while the Scots ended in fourth place.
Wooster’s season looked to be on the brink of disaster after an 0-2 start and a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Richard Barnes ’14 against Oberlin College, but the Scots rebounded to finish 4-4 in their final eight games behind a strong running game led by Flagg and Frongillo. They will look to build for next season.