Wooster Travels to Rival Wittenberg for Conference Opener

Ben Schrock

The College of Wooster, off to an 0-3 start for the first time since 1993, will put its challenging non-league schedule in the rearview mirror this week as the Fighting Scots begin their quest for the North Coast Athletic Conference championship with none other than a road trip to arch-rival Wittenberg University (2-1) on Saturday, Sept. 29. Winning an NCAC title following a winless non-conference season is not unprecedented, as Allegheny College accomplished that feat just four years ago (2003) and Kenyon College did it in 1989. Kickoff at the Tigers’ 3,000-seat Edwards-Maurer Field in Springfield, Ohio, is set for 1 p.m.

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 Mike Breckenridge and Ron Hamilton.

All-Time Series: Wittenberg and Wooster have put on some very memorable games recently, as seven of the last 11 have been decided by eight points or less, highlighted by the epic 2004 game, which the Scots won 64-58 in overtime after the Tigers came back from 48-17 and 58-37 deficits, and forced the extra session when they scored on a 4th-down play from the 3-yard line with just :15 left. Despite all of the close games, Wittenberg has been a nemesis for Wooster, as the Tigers lead the all-time series 29-11-1, including a 28-2 record since 1950.

Last Week: On Sept. 22, northeast Ohio foe Case Western Reserve University knocked off the Scots 30-17, marking their first loss in the Baird Brothers Trophy game since 1994. Wooster had won 10 in a row in the teams’ regular match-up for one of the more unique trophies – a golden fishing stringer that holds carved bass fish – in college sports’ rivalry games.

Senior linebacker Trey Simmerman (Clarksburg, W. Va. / Notre Dame) helped the Scots get off to a good start, making an interception on the third offensive play of the game, which gave Wooster’s offense a short field to work with. The Scots took advantage, as Austin Holter (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) connected with tight end Ben Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) on an 8-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-goal to complete the 6-play, 14-yard drive. Case got on the board during its ensuing possession via a 37-yard field goal. Wooster then went three-and-out, however, it recovered a fumble on the punt to take possession in Spartan territory again. Starting at the 31-yard line this time, Wooster advanced the ball via one first down and Andy Milligan (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville) eventually booted through a 34-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The two teams would then exchange fumbles before Case tied it up with a long touchdown drive (15 plays, 76 yards) during the second quarter. The Spartans later added a 20-play, 86-yard possession at the end of the half, but only got a 19-yard field goal out of it, and thus, a 13-10 lead at the break.

The two defenses dominated the third quarter, forcing five punts, until Case produced the longest play of the game, a 51-yard touchdown pass. That put the Spartans ahead 20-10.

Early in the fourth quarter, Case went up by three scores, with a 42-yard reception setting up the Spartans at the 12-yard line and eventually a two-yard touchdown rush made it 27-10. The Scots went on to make things interesting, when two possessions later, Jeff Geffert (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) returned a fumble 33 yards for a score. It marked the first career touchdown for the senior and preseason All-American defensive back. Case answered with another field goal, this one from 29 yards away, and Wooster never advanced inside the Spartan 40-yard line the rest of the way.

Individually, Holter completed nearly two-thirds of his passes, going 19-of-30 for 118 yards, with Will Miska (Hillsborough, N.J. / Hillsborough) being on the receiving end of five for 46 yards. Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) rushed for 44 stripes on 12 attempts. On defense, Geffert led the way, registering a career-high 12 tackles, in addition to the 33-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Depth Chart Notes: There have been some changes in the defensive backfield for this week. Senior Jeff Geffert (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) will likely shift over from starting cornerback to starting free safety, which will allow junior Jordan Ross (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / Cuyahoga Falls) to start at the other corner position.

This and That: Prior to this year, the Scots had marched through non-conference play at 3-0 for five seasons in a row, and they still hold an impressive 28-7 record over the last 35 such games, including the two NCAA Div. III playoff games ... Wooster’s three non-conference opponents are currently 9-1 ... Senior linebackers Greg Schermbeck (Whitmer, N.C. / Whitmer – Ohio) and Trey Simmerman (Clarksburg, W. Va. / Notre Dame) are on pace for 100-tackle seasons, currently with 33 and 30 stops, respectively. Simmerman also currently leads the league in interceptions with two ... The Scots are tied for second in the NCAC in sacks with 11, paced by 2.5 from senior strong safety Jalam Cutting (Akron, Ohio / Buchtel) ... Wooster also ranks among the top-half of the league in punting (31.9 net average), punt returns (8.8 yards per attempt), and turnover margin (+1) ... Junior defensive tackle Pat Byrne (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic) has produced the two highest tackle games of his career the last two times out – six against Waynesburg and five at Case – while also recording one solo sack in each contest ... Junior running back Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) is exactly 100 yards shy of becoming the 10th player in team history to reach the 2,000-yard milestone for career rushing.