Big Third Quarter the Difference in Scots' 35-13 Win

Tony Sutton dives for a one-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to give the Scots a 28-7 lead. photo by Matthew Broda

WOOSTER, Ohio — A 21-point third quarter, which began with a Tony Sutton (Akron, Ohio / Archbishop Hoban) 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, keyed The College of Wooster’s 35-13 victory over visiting Allegheny College in the teams’ North Coast Athletic Conference lid-lifter Saturday afternoon at a cool, wet John P. Papp Stadium.

Despite only allowing one first down and outgaining Allegheny 131-22 in total offensive yards during the first half, Wooster (4-0, 1-0 NCAC) was ahead just 7-0 at the break. That was due to three Scot turnovers, all occurring in Gator territory.

Allegheny (1-3, 0-1 NCAC), on the other hand, had one turnover during the first 30 minutes, which resulted in the lone points. On the Gators’ first play from scrimmage in the second quarter, Bobby Vega (Windsor, Conn. / Pomfret School) forced a fumble and Tim Cline (Gambier, Ohio / Mt. Vernon) pounced on it at the 10-yard line. On the ensuing play, Sutton ran it in for the first of his three touchdowns on the day.

To start the second half, the Gators kicked off in Sutton’s direction, and the two-time All-American running back received it at the 10, burst through a seam up the middle, then veered to the left sideline, and broke a tackle around the Allegheny 10-yard line before scoring. It marked his third career kickoff return, and the second that he brought back for a touchdown.

The Gators had an answer, though. On the ensuing drive. They marched 89 yards in just six plays, capped by a Mario Tarquinio nine-yard touchdown run to pull back within one score (14-7). The drive was sparked by Tarquinio’s 42-yard rush on the first play from scrimmage.

The second-half offensive fireworks continued, when the Scots marched right down the field on the next possession. Five Sutton runs, totaling 30 yards, set up a 33-yard touchdown pass from Justin Schafer (Bethesda, Ohio / Union Local) to Richie McNally (Westerville, Ohio / St. Francis DeSales).

Andy Mizak wraps up Sean Locklin for a loss during the Scots' 35-13 win over Allegheny.

Three punts later, Wooster got the ball back with 5:00 left in the third, and steadily drove 88 yards to the end zone, with Sutton carrying most of the load. He rushed six times on the nine-play drive for 44 yards, and finished it off with a one-yard dive over the pile to put the Scots ahead 28-7.

Allegheny did cut into the lead once more. The Gators moved the ball 68 yards in 11 plays to start the fourth quarter, capping the drive with an eight-yard pass from Jimmy Savage to Dallas Robinson. However, Allegheny missed the point after attempt, and was down 28-13.

After the teams traded punts, Wooster put the game away. Starting a drive in Allegheny territory for the fifth time, the Scots went 36 yards in seven plays, with Schafer keeping it himself on an option from two yards out for the touchdown.

Wooster wound up with 15 first downs and 337 yards of offense to the Gators’ 199 and nine, respectively.

Individually, Sutton had 165 rushing yards on 34 attempts, while Taraquinio wound up with his first career 100-yard game – 117 yards on 14 carries.

Schafer completed 8-of-21 passes for 93 yards, and added another 63 stripes on the ground. McNally was his top target with four catches for 56 yards.

Savage was 11-of-24 for 79 yards, and Robinson hauled in four of those balls for 47 yards.

The Scots will put their perfect record on the line next Saturday, as they travel to Kenyon College (1-3, 1-0 NCAC).