Scots Open with Win over Wolverines

Brock Wanless rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns against Grove City.

The College of Wooster weathered a fourth-quarter rally by host Grove City to capture a 31-28 victory in its season opener Saturday behind the 141-yard, two-touchdown rushing efforts of senior Brock Wanless.

Wooster, 1-0, hosts Kalamazoo College next Saturday.

The Scots never trailed in the game and had forged a 21-6 halftime lead. But Grove City battled back in the second half and closed to within 24-21 with 8:54 left in the game on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Steve Lacinski to Jack Gillespie.

On the ensuing possession, Wooster faced a third down and 18 situation from its own 18 yard line when junior quarterback Justin Abraham threw a 32-yard pass to senior Jay Myers. That was the key play in what turned out to be a crucial 74-yard scoring drive which was capped by Wanless's seven-yard touchdown run.

In addition to Wanless's two touchdowns, the Scots scored on a 36-yard pass from Abraham to sophomore Chris Cabot. Abraham completed 22 of 40 passes for 282 yards but had three intercepted. Wooster's Mike Krackenberg scored late in the first half when a punt hit a Grove City player at the goal line, and Krackenberg fell on the loose ball in the end zone.

The Scots' victory came despite the 242-yard rushing effort of Grove City junior R. J. Bowers who also scored three of the Wolverines' touchdowns.