Wooster Nips Case Reserve 31-27

Will Schober's 206 rushing yards equaled the fifth-highest rushing total in school history.

The College of Wooster got quite a scare Saturday afternoon in Cleveland, Ohio, as Case Western Reserve, who has just two wins on the season, nearly upset the 25th-ranked Scots before losing 31-27.

Trailing 31-27 with 7:15 to go in the fourth quarter, the Spartans had three straight possessions that started in Wooster territory, but could not come up with a game-winning score. The first started at the Scot 38-yard line, but Case Western Reserve was forced to punt after losing two yards on three downs. A fumble by the Scots at their own 24-yard line gave the Spartans the ball back with 5:09 to play, but they were unable to capitalize again, as the Wooster defense stopped them at the 15-yard line on downs. Finally, with 2:01 to play, the Spartans moved from the Wooster 49-yard line to the 18-yard line with just over a minute left, but were stopped on downs once again, ending any threat of an upset.

Early in the first quarter, it appeared Wooster was on its way to an easy win, as the Scots marched 76 yards down the field on their first drive. Junior quarterback Justin Abraham (North Olmsted, Ohio / St. Edward) finished the scoring drive with a nine-yard pass to senior tight end Kelly McFarland (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit), giving McFarland his first points of the season.

The Scots then blocked a Spartan punt, which set up a 28-yard field goal by junior Joe Zombek (Westlake, Ohio / St. Ignatius) that gave Wooster a 10-0 lead.

The momentum of the game changed, however, when Mark Elder intercepted an Abraham pass and ran it back 29 yards for a touchdown with 9:53 to play in the second quarter to make the score 10-7.

That play sparked the Case Western Reserve offense, which proceeded to score two more touchdowns in the next seven minutes. After a fumble by Wooster gave the Spartans the ball at the Scotsé 46-yard line, Case Western Reserve scored three plays later on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Tom Kaufmann to Dave Wooley. Then, with 3:07 to play in the half, Kaufmann hit Jeremy Nawyn on an 18-yard scoring pass that gave the Spartans a 21-10 lead.

Wooster responded with a touchdown of its own, as Abraham connected with senior Reggie Ray (Norton, Ohio / Wadsworth) on a 28-yard scoring pass with 1:46 left in the half. The Scots then successfully executed a two-point conversion, cutting the Scot deficit to three at 21-18.

Wooster regained the lead early in the third quarter when senior Will Schober (Avon, Ohio / Avon) scored on a one-yard run. The two teams traded punts until the second play of the fourth quarter, when the Spartans' Frank Peters scored on a three-yard run to give Case Western Reserve the lead again. The extra-point was missed, so the Spartans led 27-25.

The Scots finally took the lead for good with 10:08 to play, when Abraham hit Ray again, this time on a 44-yard pass play. Wooster went for two points but failed to convert.

Individually, Schober had a big day for the Scots, rushing for a career-high 206 yards on 31 carries. It marked the first time a Wooster player rushed for 200 yards in a game since 1992 when Eric Robinson gained 258 yards against Wilmington. It also was the seventh-highest mark in school history. Ray finished with 119 yards receiving on seven catches, while Abraham completed 16-of-31 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns.

Statistically, Wooster outgained the Spartans 463-406, but the Scots did commit five turnovers.

The Scots, who are now 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, will put their season on the line on Saturday, Nov. 13, when they host undefeated and sixth-ranked Wittenberg. The winner of that game will win the NCAC title and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.