Sam Kuhn
Senior Sports Writer
Last Saturday, the Fighting Scots football team came out strong in the first half, but a slow second start allowed the Denison Big Red to claw their way back into the game with a second half comeback, earning a victory for the “Old Red Lantern” at John P. Papp Stadium.
A slow and strategic first half saw the Big Red bookend an Antonio Bailey ’19 touchdown with two of their own, as they got out to a 13-7 lead at halftime. Bailey finished the game with 122 total yards rushing with two touchdowns and 26 yards receiving.
This performance marks the third time in the last four games that Bailey has rushed for over 100 yards. Bailey’s second touchdown run, a 14 yarder in the third quarter, put the Scots on top until Denison went on to score 23 straight points.
Early in the second half, Gary Muntean ’18 connected with Nick Strausbaugh ’20 for a 42-yard completion that put Strausbaugh in the record books for having the most receiving yards in a single season in Wooster history. Strausbaugh finished the game with a team high of 89 receiving yards.
Denison came out firing in the fourth quarter, scoring three straight touchdowns as Muntean saw two of his passes fall into the hands of the Big Red. The Scots’ offense got its rhythm back too late in the fourth with two late touchdown throws from Muntean to Russell Boston ’19 and Strausbaugh as time expired in the fourth.
The Scots’ defense kept Wooster in the game throughout the first three quarters, as Patrick Johnson ’18 and Hunter Coia ’19 both scooped up fumbles to give the ball back to the offense.
Johnson added to his team-leading 53 tackles by notching 10 more on the day to bring his season total to 63.
Trent Leggett ’19 and D’Andre Brown ’20 both added eight tackles on the day and half a sack apiece.
The defense held Denison’s leading rusher to 94 yards on the day and kept the team in the game all day.
Other statistical leaders of note for the Scots were Muntean, who passed for 347 yards and two touchdowns, and Jacob Lewis ’20, who hauled in seven catches for 83 yards. Boston also contributed 66 yards to the offensive effort. Despite the loss, the Scots stand at 6-3 (5-3 NCAC) on the year with one game remaining.
The Scots take on archrival #13 Wittenberg (9-0, 8-0 NCAC) this Saturday, Nov. 11 on the road in their last game of the season.