Ashley Ferguson
Contributing Writer
Despite a second-half resurgence on Saturday, The College of Wooster football team fell in its final game of the season to Ohio Wesleyan University and its strong start at Selby Stadium in Delaware, Oh.
However, the Fighting Scots (4-6, 4-5 NCAC) are on the upswing. This season saw a two win improvement over last season, winning two out of the last three games to garner the best wrap-up win streak since the 2012 season’s four consecutive closing wins.
“Well, no, it wasn’t the outcome we wanted in the last game of the season but we finished the season strong,” said head coach Frank Colaprete. “I am so proud of how we were able to turn the season around and we kept improving as a team.”
In the first quarter of Saturday’s conference matchup, Christian Santos ’20 forced a fumble on OWU’s Alex Barrett at the 1-yard line, but the Bishops fell on it in the endzone, scoring the game’s first touchdown with 10:58 left in the quarter.
Later, OWU’s Dominick Orsini rushed for a five-yard score, which was followed shortly after by Barrett’s touchdown. The Bishops held a 21-0 lead going into halftime.
Orsini launched a 75-yard pass to OWU’s Adrian Bishop a little over a minute into the second half. It would end up being OWU’s only touchdown of the third quarter.
On the next drive, Troy Brown ’17 intercepted a pass from Orsini. The Scots then forced punts on two consecutive OWU drives in the third quarter, and Jordan Patterson ’20 snagged Wooster’s third interception of the game.
Wooster caught fire in the third quarter when Antonio Bailey ’19 scored a touchdown on a 43-yard run with 5:04 left in play. After the extra-point from Trevor Bowden ’18, OWU’s lead was cut down to 21.
Ohio Wesleyan fought back in the fourth, scoring off of a 16-yard pass from Orsini to Tyler DeVitis with 13:54 on the clock and another rushing score from Orsini with 10:00 left.
With the score 42-7 in favor of Ohio Wesleyan (6-4, 6-3 NCAC), Wooster pushed back in their final offensive possession. Gary Muntean ’18 completed a pass to Tyson Vogel ’17 for a three-yard touchdown in the final two minutes for a final score of 42-14.
Muntean broke several program records in Saturday’s game, throwing for 248 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions. He finished the season with new records in total offense (3,140), passing yards (2,940), total offensive plays (516), pass attempts (386) and completions (234). Brown led the Scots with nine tackles in addition to two interceptions in the game, while Ben Kumpf ’18 added eight tackles.
Saturday’s finale topped off the collegiate careers of seven seniors, including Brown, Vogel, Christian Golden ’17, Nate Huwar ’17, Kevin Komara ’17, Riley Markko ’17 and Todd Ulmer ’17.
Noting the strength and resilience of the team this season, Colaprete said, “This team can go into the off-season with our heads held high, knowing if we work hard we will be right in the mix for a championship next season.”