The Fighting Scots football team (5-3, 4-3 NCAC) stayed hot with its third straight win on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 27, decimating Kenyon College by a score of 41-0. Antonio Bailey ’19 led the way with four of Wooster’s five touchdowns and 126 rushing yards, while Nick Strausbaugh ’20 also had a terrific outing as he racked up 169 receiving yards and scored the other touchdown.
“We had a great week of preparation and played hard on Saturday,” said Head Coach Frank Colaprete. “It was great to see everyone play well for all four quarters.”
The winless Lords were simply no match for the Fighting Scots, as they fell behind 7-0 on a four-yard run by Bailey in the first quarter and never recovered. Wooster continued to tack on score after score while a shutdown defensive effort stifled Kenyon’s attack all game long. Marcus Bowers ’19 was especially pleased with the team’s work on this front.
“At all levels on defense we played well,” Bowers said. “The defensive line was relentless and was working to dominate the line of scrimmage, the linebackers were flying around making plays and our back end played lights out … Overall, it was the performance we have been looking for as a defense. All units doing their jobs well for four straight quarters.” It was the first shutout by a Wooster defense since a 62-0 victory over Hiram College in 2010.
After taking the early lead, the Scots blew the game open in the second quarter with 17 more points to make it 24-0 by halftime. Bailey scored again on a one-yard run to double the lead before receiving a 13-yard pass from Mateo Renteria ’22 for his third touchdown of the day. At the end of the first half, Henry Whyte ’21 kicked a 22-yard field goal that extended the lead to 24.
The first score of the second half came on Strausbaugh’s touchdown, which came on a 63-yard run following a miscommunication by the Kenyon defense.
Later in the quarter, Whyte converted his second field goal of the day, adding to a strong day for the kicker, who also got the extra point on each of Wooster’s five touchdowns. Heading into the fourth quarter, the game was in garbage time at 34-0. Bailey added one more touchdown on a 36-yard run for good measure, pushing the final margin to 41.
It was an all-around terrific day for the Scots.
Along with the outstanding efforts by Bailey and Strausbaugh, they got a strong game from Renteria as he passed for 286 yards on 17 completions. Tight end Jacob Lewis ’20 was also a standout on offense with 68 receiving yards.
The strong defensive performance was led by Eric Kraus ’22, who finished with 10 tackles. Mark Herron ’21 backed up this effort with seven of his own, and Bowers added six more.
While the team is happy with the dominating win, the players strive to continue getting better every day rather than growing complacent with their recent success.
“I personally think that the team is doing well this year,” said Nick Godsey ’20. “One of the best games we’ve had in a while, but we still have a long way to go.”
The win marked at least a .500 finish this season for the Fighting Scots.
The Scots will try to keep their hot streak going when they hit the road for a game against the Denison University Big Red on Nov. 3.
(Photo from Wooster Athletics)