Scots Post Shutout In Home Opener

David Yokley bursts through the Kalamazoo defense on Saturday. Yokley gained 70 yards on just six carries.

WOOSTER, Ohio - The College of Wooster improved to 2-0 on the season and posted its first shutout since October 11, 1997, defeating Kalamazoo 23-0 at John P. Papp Stadium this afternoon.

Junior quarterback Justin Abraham (North Olmsted, Ohio / St. Edward) threw two first-half touchdowns and the Scot defense only allowed the Hornet offense to get inside the Wooster 20-yard line once the entire game.

After missing a 36-yard field goal on its first possession, Abraham connected with sophomore wide out Chris Cabot (West Lafayette, Ohio / Ridgewood) on a 49-yard touchdown pass on the Scots' next offensive series to give Wooster a 7-0 lead.

Wooster again drove the ball downfield on its third possession, but senior Brock Wanless (Wauseon, Ohio / Wauseon) fumbled at the two-yard line on a first-and-goal play to stop the drive.

The Scots atoned for their mistake on the ensuing possession. Wooster got the ball at the Kalamazoo 48 after a 27-yard interception return by Seth Mastrine (Apple Creek, Ohio / Waynedale). Six plays later, Abraham threw a six-yard scoring play to running back Kyle Mueller (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake), giving the Scots a 14-0 halftime lead.

The second half saw very little action from either offense, but Wooster did manage to ice the victory when Wanless ran the ball in from seven yards out with 4:31 to play in the third quarter. Scot junior kicker Joe Zombek (Westlake, Ohio / St. Ignatius) added a 36-yard field goal with 1:24 remaining in the game to cap the scoring.

On the day, Abraham completed 17 of 29 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Wanless rushed for 97 yards on 22 carries, while Reggie Ray (Norton / Wadsworth) led the Wooster receiving corps with six catches for 86 yards.

Defensively, the Scots limited Kalamazoo to 237 yards of total offense. Kevin Brown (Doylestown / Chippewa) led the Scots with 10 tackles, while junior defensive lineman Kevin Heintschel (Oregon / Clay) had two sacks.

Wooster opens North Coast Athletic Conference play Sept. 18 at Ohio Wesleyan, while the Hornets open Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at home against Defiance.