Ground Attack Leads Wooster Past Denison 56-7

Scott Jones rushed for 229 yards and tied an NCAC record with five touchdown runs against Denison.

GRANVILLE, Ohio — For much of the season, the story for The College of Wooster's football team has been the play of Tony Sutton (Akron, Ohio / Archbishop Hoban), who leads Division III in rushing (173.4 ypg). But on Saturday, the spotlight shined on Scott Jones (Uhrichsville, Ohio / Tuscarawas Central Catholic), who powered Wooster to a 56-7 North Coast Athletic Conference victory over Denison.

Jones, filling in for the injured Sutton, tied a conference record with five touchdown runs and became the eighth Scot running back to eclipse the 2,000 yard career rushing mark (2,013) by gaining 229 yards on 31 carries.

As a team, the Scots (8-1, 5-1) rushed for 343 yards, giving them 2,318 rushing yards this season, the most by a Wooster team in the school's 104-year history.

The win sets up a regular-season finale showdown with conference rival Wittenberg next Saturday (Nov. 16) at Wooster. Each team will enter the game with identical records, and the winner of that contest will own second-place in the NCAC and be in contention for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Saturday's contest was never in doubt, as the Scots opened the game by scoring touchdowns on three of its first four possessions. Jeff Spraggins (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) connected with tight end Matt Ralls (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) on an 11-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.

After a punt on its next possession, Wooster went 65 yards on 10 plays, capped by a one-yard Jones touchdown run. On the Big Red's next offensive play, sophomore Brian Kight (Fallbrook, Calif / Fallbrook) intercepted a pass and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown.

Denison (2-7, 2-4) responded with its lone scoring drive of the game, as it went 83 yards on eight plays, capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from John Stoll to Ryan Hite. Hite was the lone bright spot for the Big Red, as he finished the day with six catches for 136 yards.

Wooster finished the first half strong, as Spraggins hit Dan Steck (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) with an 11-yard scoring strike.

The second half belonged to Wooster and Jones, as he scored all four of the Scots' second-half touchdowns. In the third quarter alone, Jones carried the ball 11 times for 88 yards and three touchdowns, then capped his record-tying day with a seven-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter.

Also enjoying success on the ground for Wooster was Sean Anderson (Lowell, Ind. / Lowell), who carried the ball 18 times for 87 yards.

Through the air, Spraggins completed 11-of-20 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with six different receivers.

Statistically, the Scots outgained Denison 498-212. The Wooster defense was especially tough against the run, allowing just 39 yards on the ground. Leading the defensive effort were Tim Cline (Mount Vernon, Ohio / Mount Vernon), who had six tackles, and Joe Kearney (Weymouth, Mass. / Weymouth), who had an interception and a sack.