Sheppard Runs for 109 in 2006 Debut, as Scots Beat Case 21-7

Dustin Sheppard provided the Scot running game with a boost Saturday, going for his third career 100-yard game.

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster rushed for 229 yards, including 109 by Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) in his first appearance of the 2006 season, and its defense limited Case Western Reserve University to 16 team rushing yards (thanks in part to six sacks) during Saturday’s 21-7 win over the Spartans in the annual battle for the Baird Brothers Trophy.

Wooster (3-0) has now won the Baird Brothers Trophy 10-straight times and the Scots also wrapped up their non-conference schedule unbeaten for the fifth consecutive season.

The game’s initial score came as the result of two key special teams plays. First, Wooster’s Jordan Ross (Silver Lake, Ohio / Cuyahoga Falls) recovered a muffed punt on the Case 20-yard line. The Scots’ offense would turn it over on downs at the 2-yard line, however, the defense then held the Spartans to a three-and-out. Next, Matt DeGrand (Stow, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary) burst through the Case line, blocking the punt, and the ball was caught in the air by Aaron Gertz (Bay Village, Ohio / Bay) right near the end line for a touchdown. That marked Gertz’s second blocked punt for a touchdown of his career.

When the Wooster offense gained possession again late in the first quarter, the Scots strung together a 16-play, 84-yard drive, capped by a six-yard pass from Justin Schafer (Bethesda, Ohio / Union Local) to Joe Francescangeli (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) in the right flat. The score was keyed by Sheppard, who had three separate 12-yard runs during that possession.

Case (3-1) had a couple of opportunities to get on the scoreboard in the second quarter, but misfired on a 39-yard field goal attempt and then Keith Adams (Mogadore, Ohio / Field) made his second career interception to halt a Spartan drive at the Wooster 7-yard line with 1:06 remaining.

The Scots made it 21-0 on the initial drive of the second half. Schafer found Luke McCann (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Keystone Oaks) in the right corner of the end zone on 3rd-and-6 from the 15-yard line to finish off a 10-play, 65-yard drive. The key play in that sequence was a tipped pass that turned into a 24-yard reception for wideout Shaun Swearingen (Hilliard, Ohio / Bishop Watterson), who was making his 2006 debut.

Wooster’s defense made that lead hold up. The Spartans did advance the ball deep inside Scot territory three times the rest of the way. Late in the third, they drove to the Wooster 15 before turning it over on downs. Two possessions later, Case got to the 28-yard line, but then the Scots exploded for sacks on three-straight plays by Brandon French (Columbia Station, Ohio / Columbia), Andre Smith (Hendersonville, Tenn. / Beech), and Greg Schermbeck (Toledo, Ohio / Whitmer), making it 4th-and-40.

The Spartans did crack the scoring column on their next possession, as second-string quarterback Angelo Mirando rushed it in from six yards out to cap a 9-play, 50-yard drive with 3:03 remaining.

Overall, Wooster outgained Case 332-285. In addition to Sheppard’s 109 rushing yards, Orlando Jones (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) added 47, Schafer 43, and Francescangeli 27. Schafer completed 12-of-23 passes for 106 yards, with McCan being his top target (5 receptions, 32 yards).

Most of the Spartans yards came through the air, as starting quarterback Dan Whalen was 18-of-35 for 235 yards. Eleven completions went to Joe Brenner for 126 yards.

Schermbeck led the Scots’ defense with 10 tackles, including 3.0 for losses of 15 yards.

Wooster will begin North Coast Athletic Conference play next Saturday, as it hosts Wittenberg University (1-2) at 1 p.m. The last time the two rivals played at John P. Papp Stadium, the Scots won a wild 64-58 overtime affair which propelled them to the 2004 NCAC championship.