Fighting Scots Aim to Continue to Build Momentum for Next Year

Keith Adams

After outgaining nationally-ranked Wabash College 365-348 and producing its best effort of the 2007 season during a 21-10 setback to the North Coast Athletic Conference champions, The College of Wooster hopes to continue to build momentum towards next year when it travels to Earlham College (3-5, 2-3 NCAC) this Saturday, Nov. 3. In addition to looking to the future, Wooster is trying to avoid finishing below fifth-place in the NCAC standings for the first time since the 1994 campaign. The Fighting Scots and Earlham are part of a three-way tie for sixth entering this week’s action. Kickoff at the Quakers’ newly refurbished Darrell M. Beane Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT.

On the Air: Wooster’s football games can be heard live each week in the Wooster area on WKVX 960 AM, or anywhere in the world on the College’s Web site (www.wooster.edu/interactive/). This week’s game will be called by Dan Earich and Ron Hamilton.

All-Time Series: Earlham and Wooster did not start playing each other until 1989 when the Quakers joined the NCAC. The Scots have dominated the brief all-time series 11-2, including winning the last eight meetings by an average of 26.3 points.

Last Week: On Oct. 27, Wooster had season-highs in first downs (22), rushing yards (236), and total offense (365), but it was not enough to upend nationally-ranked Wabash College (No. 13 D3football.com, No. 9 American Football Coaches’ Association), as the Little Giants escaped an overcast and wet John P. Papp Stadium with a 21-10 win, and in so doing, clinched a share of the 2007 NCAC championship.

Early on, it looked like the Scots may be in for a long day, as an interception on the first possession put Wabash at the Wooster 19-yard line. The Little Giants quickly took advantage of the opportunity, punching in a two-yard touchdown run four plays later for a 7-0 lead.

The two teams battled for field position the rest of the first quarter and Wooster had the advantage. However, with Wabash pinned back inside its own 10-yard line late in the period, the Little Giants began what turned out to be a 92-yard touchdown drive, culminating in a seven-yard pass at the 12:30 mark of the second quarter. Trailing 14-0, the Scots came right back with a score, marching 56 yards to the Wabash one-yard line, with the key play being a 20-yard scramble on 3rd-and-11 by quarterback Austin Holter (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe). From the one, though, the Little Giants made a defensive stand and Wooster had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Andy Milligan (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville). It remained 14-3 through halftime.

The Scots’ defense forced a three-and-out to start the third quarter. Then, the offense drove 72 yards, keyed by a Holter 10-yard rush on 3rd-and-9 and a dump off pass to running back Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) that went 23 yards on 3rd-and-8. Holter scored the touchdown himself on 2nd-and-goal from the four-yard line, pulling Wooster within 14-10. On the very next offensive play, Scot freshman linebacker Steve Custenborder (Rocky River, Ohio / Rocky River) picked off a pass at the Wooster 39-yard line. However, the Scots turned it right back over on a sack and fumble, and Wabash would go the ensuing 36 yards for a touchdown, capped by a 12-yard pass, which made it 21-10 late in the quarter.

Although there was no scoring during the fourth quarter, the Scots nearly made things interesting. They advanced the ball inside the Little Giants’ 20, but another drive stalled and a 40-yard field goal went wide right. Wooster had one more opportunity late in regulation, but a 3rd-and-goal play from the six-yard line was intercepted.

Overall, the Scots ended up with five more first downs and outgained Wabash 365-348, but were done in by scoring just 10 points during four trips inside the red zone. Individually, Wooster had a pair of 100-yard rushers in Sheppard and Holter, who netted 111 and 105 yards, respectively, with each running 19 times. In the passing game, Holter was 12-of-21 for 129 yards, with senior Will Miska (Hillsborough, N.J. / Hillsborough) being his favorite target, as the wideout collected five receptions for 53 yards. On defense, sophomore linebacker Matt DeGrand (Stow, Ohio / St., Vincent-St. Mary) paced the Scots in tackles with 10, including an eight-yard sack, for the third consecutive game.

This and That: Wooster has clinched just its second losing season since 1995 and first since the 2001 campaign ... Senior return specialist Keith Adams (Mogadore, Ohio / Field) may set a Scot record this week, as he needs just five yards on punt returns to surpass Seth Mastrine’s career mark in that category. Adams has totaled 977 yards (10.3 average) since 2003, while Mastrine went for 981 (9.3 average) from 1997-00 ... Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) is making a late push to be the NCAC rushing champion, as after four-straight 100-yard games (116, 131, 110, 111) he now is second in the league with a 76.9-yard average. The current leader is Oberlin College’s R.V. Carroll (97.6 ypg) ... Linebackers Matt DeGrand (Stow, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary), a sophomore, and Greg Schermbeck (Holly Springs, N.C. / Whitmer – Ohio), a senior, share the team lead in tackles with 74 apiece. DeGrand also leads the team in tackles for loss with 10.5, while freshman defensive end Luke Drake (Valrico, Fla. / Newsome) has a squad-high 4.0 sacks ... Senior placekicker Andy Milligan (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville) has missed just two attempts this year, having gone 7-for-9 on field goals and 13-for-13 on extra points, which puts him at 23-for-34 and 77-for-79 for his career, respectively.