Jeremy Ludemann
Contributing Writer
Disbelief. Jubilation. Victory. All of these thoughts and sentiments became a reality when Wooster’s Shawn Bowman ’15 blocked Myles McKenzie’s (and Ohio Wesleyan’s) field goal attempt as the clock expired in the fourth quarter. Bowman’s stellar play put a spectacular coda on the Scots’ thrilling 28-27 victory over the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan University last Saturday at John P. Papp Stadium. “The Block” led to the Wooster football team rushing the field in delight as the nine Scot seniors — Richard Barnes, John Battaglia, Kory George, Seth Goodwin, Petey Jeffy, Andy Nash, Matt Reeder, Joe Stoffer and Brendon Taylor — went out on top to end their careers with a one-point win. For the season, Wooster finished 7-3 overall and 7-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, which is the best mark for the Black and Old Gold since 2008 and good enough for a third place finish in the conference standings.
This finish seemed impossible earlier in the game, and especially at halftime, when Wooster trailed 27-7 after Ohio Wesleyan perfectly executed a hook-and-ladder play where Bishop receiver Scott Jenkins rumbled 30 yards for a touchdown with only 12 seconds left on the first-half clock. The Scots started off on the wrong foot — literally — as Tyler Gerwig’s onside kick attempt went awry, and Ohio Wesleyan had the ball in Wooster territory. The Wooster defense held strong and forced the Bishops to settle for a 3-0 lead after Myles McKenzie kicked a 27-yard field goal through the uprights.
The Scots were inefficient offensively in the first half, and Ohio Wesleyan continued to receive good field position. After Mason Espinosa, the Bishops’ senior quarterback, found Dave Mogilnicki for a 30-yard touchdown, the Bishops had a commanding 20-0 lead. Right before the half, they employed their trickery, Espinosa first firing a 15 yard dart to Mogilnicki, who then pitched it to Scott Jenkins. After Jenkins reached the end zone and McKenzie kicked the PAT, Wesleyan had a 27-7 lead, and the Scots chances of a rally seemed small at best. The only offense that the Scots had was a 53-yard touchdown by Sean Hackel ’15 at the three-minute mark of the first half.
The third quarter proved to be an offensive struggle for both squads, as neither team was able to solve each other’s defensive schemes after halftime. However, the Scots owned the fourth quarter. After forcing an OWU punt and stopping the Bishops on a fake punt, Wooster had the ball inside the OWU 30-yard line. The Scots took advantage. Barnes led Wooster down to the goal line, and Jake Zoldan ’16 rumbled into the end zone from one yard out to cut the lead to 27-14 with 10 minutes remaining.
Then the Wooster defense took over, successfully eliminating Ohio Wesleyan’s offense for the rest of the contest. The result was a motivated and invigorated Scot offense, their senior leader Barnes at the helm. Wooster drove 138 yards over their last two drives, Barnes scoring on a six-yard touchdown run with 4:50 left in the game to trim the Bishops’ lead to six at 27-21.
The Scots’ final drive was simply a work of art; Barnes completed three big passes and then scampered for 12 yards to the Ohio Wesleyan eight with 46 seconds left in the game. On the next play, Barnes threw a touchdown strike to first-year sensation Darrian Owens to propel the Scots to a 27-27 tie. Zack Moore ’15 kicked the extra point put the Scots up 28-27 and then turned the pressure over to the OWU offense to best the Wooster defense.
The Bishops moved quickly yet efficiently as Espinosa led the visitors inside the 40 of Wooster with crucial pass completions. The Wooster front seven, though, put tremendous pressure on Espinosa in the waning seconds of the game, forcing the Bishops to try the field goal for the victory. McKenzie, who made a 43-yarder earlier in the game, was definitely capable of hitting a 47-yarder for the game winner. However, Bowman would have nothing of it, bolting through the Bishop line and swatting the kick away.
This game and this season were a wild ride that ultimately ended in sweet success for the Scots and their fans. Disbelief. Jubilation. Victory. Hopefully, these words will be used next season and many years to come for Wooster football, as they are now on the winning path to prominence.