Sutton Sets School and NCAC Rushing Record in 37-14 Win Over OWU

Tony Sutton, pictured here stiff-arming the Bishops Ryan McCarty, rushed for a school and NCAC record 313 yards in a 37-14 win over Ohio Wesleyan. (photo courtesy of OWU)

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DELAWARE, Ohio — After rushing for 435 yards and three touchdowns in his previous two games, it seemed unlikely that Tony Sutton (Akron, Ohio / Archbishop Hoban), could surpass those accomplishments, especially against a notoriously tough Ohio Wesleyan defense that entered the week ranked third in total defense in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

But Sutton was more than up to the task, blistering the Bishop defense for a school and NCAC record 313 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries to lift the Scots to a 37-14 win in the conference opener for both teams and improving Wooster's record to 4-0.

Wooster's Brian Grandison had held both records when he rushed for 292 yards against Earlham in 1991. The five rushing touchdowns and 30 total points scored for the game also equaled the conference record in both categories.

Sutton showed the complete package against Ohio Wesleyan (2-2 / 0-1), running the ball hard up the middle and carrying tacklers, then bouncing outside to break off long runs. The best example of this came late in the second quarter, when the two teams were deadlocked at 7-7 and Sutton had been kept relatively in check. He took a handoff straight up the middle and appeared to be stopped for a two-yard gain. But he broke free of the pile and sprinted outside the left and outran the Bishop secondary for a 58-yard touchdown run.

Leading 17-7 early in the third quarter, the Scots took advantage of good field position and went 43 yards on three Sutton runs, capped by a one-yard score.

Ohio Wesleyan tried to get back into the contest, driving inside the Wooster 30-yard line, but the Scot defense, which played extremely well after allowing a 68-yard touchdown drive in its first series of the game, stiffened, stopping the Bishops on downs.

At this point, Sutton and the Wooster offensive line took over. With the help of a Rob Hooper (Mt. Vernon, Ohio / Mt. Vernon) 14-yard run and a 12-yard pass to Ryan Hartschuh (Akron, Ohio / Revere), the Scots moved to the Ohio Wesleyan 31-yard line, where a handoff to Sutton up the middle turned into another long touchdown to make the score 30-7.

Wooster put the game away for good on its next possession, as it used 14 plays to cover 83 yards – 58 gained by Sutton – capping the drive with a seven-yard score by Sutton, his fifth score of the game.

Sutton was forced to carry the running load for the Scots after Scott Jones (Uhrichsville, Ohio / Tuscarawus Central Catholic), who has seen significant action this season, left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury.

Overshadowed somewhat by the running of Sutton was the Scot defense, which limited the Bishops to 320 yards of offense. Leading the way was Tim Cline (Gambier, Ohio / Mt. Vernon), who recorded 14 tackles. Scott McManamon (Bay Village, Ohio / Bay) had 12 stops, while Todd Worly (Bexley, Ohio / Bexley) had seven tackles and the game's only sack.

Jason Osborne had a solid game on the ground for Ohio Wesleyan, rushing for 107 yards on 20 carries. While the Bishops threw for two touchdowns, they completed only 10-of-25 passes for 88 yards. Jeff Spraggins (Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights) threw just 11 passes for Wooster, completing five for 69 yards.