McNally, Defense Lead to Scots' 27-6 Opening Win

Senior Richie McNally, pictured here breaking Wooster's career record for field goals (19), also had a career-high 105 receiving yards. (Duane Martin Photo)

WOOSTER, Ohio — Wide receiver/placekicker Richie McNally (Westerville, Ohio / St. Francis DeSales) totaled a career-high 104 receiving yards on five catches and accounted for 15 of The College of Wooster’s 27 total points, as the Scots opened up 2004 with a 27-6 victory over visiting Muskingum College on Saturday afternoon at a hot and muggy John P. Papp Stadium.

With his two field goals, McNally also became the school’s career leader in that category at 19, surpassing Ben Arnold (18; 1996-99) and Bob Macoritti (18; 1969-72). The versatile senior already holds Wooster’s extra points made record, boosting it to 109 today.

After a quiet first half, with a 41-yard field goal by McNally being the only scoring, Wooster exploded for 17 points in the third quarter to essentially put the game away. The Scots’ second drive of the second half resulted in McNally’s record-setting field goal, which came from 34 yards away.

Following a brief Muskingum drive, Wooster went 58 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 10-yard run by Kevin Williams (Bay Village, Ohio / Bay) – the sophomore’s third career touchdown – to make it a two-score margin for the first time (13-0).

On the ensuing possession, senior cornerback Ryan Jayne (East Palestine, Ohio / East Palestine) intercepted a ball in Muskie territory, and on the very next play, sophomore quarterback Justin Schafer (Bethesda, Ohio / Union Local) found McNally in the back of the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown (20-0).

The Scots built their lead to 27-0 midway through the fourth quarter, when Muskingum, pinned deep in its own territory, threw an errant pass that sophomore strong safety Chris Craig (Newark, Ohio / Johnstown) picked off and then returned 29 yards for a score. It was his first career interception.

The Muskies got on the scoreboard less than a minute later, as Steve Howard rammed it in from one-yard out. The touchdown was set up by a 42-yard pass from Josh Lowery, Muskingum’s third quarterback of the day, to Andy Weiss.

The Muskies held Wooster’s preseason All-American running back, Tony Sutton (Akron, Ohio / Archbishop Hoban) in check for most of the game, as the senior finished with 106 yards – his 10th-straight 100-yard game, but fourth-lowest career total – on 26 carries. Sutton’s longest rush was a 16-yarder.

The Scots’ defense did an even better job on Muskingum’s top back, limiting Trevor Cooper to just 29 rushing yards on 13 attempts.

Schafer finished 12-for-27 with 155 yards, with McNally being his top target, while the Muskies’ three signal callers combined to go 7-for-18 for 104 yards. Antwan Curry hauled in five balls for 65 yards to lead Muskingum’s receiving corps.

Overall, Wooster totaled 319 yards of offense, averaging 4.6 yards a play, and gaining 18 first downs, while the Muskies only could muster 185 yards and eight first downs.

Next Saturday, Wooster has its "bye" week, so the Scots will not return to action until a road trip to Grove City College on Sept. 18.