Fighting Scots Shutout OWU 24-0 to Improve to 4-1

Phil Vitalbo

The College of Wooster defense shutout an Ohio Wesleyan University team that entered Saturday’s North Coast Athletic Conference match-up averaging 30.8 points per game, and the Fighting Scots got enough plays from their offense, including two third-quarter touchdown runs by Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe), to prevail relatively easily 24-0 over the Battling Bishops in Delaware, Ohio.

It marked Wooster’s first shutout of Ohio Wesleyan in the teams’ annual series since 1980.

After the two teams exchanged punts on the first two series, a Phil Vitalbo (Monongahela, Pa. / Seton-LaSalle) sack pushed the Battling Bishops (0-6, 0-3 NCAC) back to their own 9-yard line and the Fighting Scots (4-1, 1-1 NCAC) eventually took over on the OWU 45. Quarterback Justin Schafer (Bethesda, Ohio / Union Local) then directed Wooster to a touchdown, connecting on three pass plays during the 7-play drive, including a 2-yarder to Jordan Ferns (Canfield, Ohio / Canfield) in the back corner of the end zone.

On the ensuing possession, the Bishops marched all the way to the Scot 16, but another key sack, this time by Evan Watson (Crawfordsville, Ind. / Crawfordsville), helped force OWU into 3rd-and-23 from the 29-yard line. Then, Keith Adams (Mogadore, Ohio / Field) made an interception in the end zone, marking his second pick of the season.

Wooster followed with a productive drive that included three 20-yard pass plays by Schafer and company, the first going for 24 yards to Orlando Jones (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) to convert a 2nd-and-21. Later, there was a 22-yarder to Shaun Swearingen (Hilliard, Ohio / Bishop Watterson) on 2nd-and13 and a 21-yard reception for Greg Peltz (Amherst, Ohio / Amherst Steele) on 3rd-and-13. The Scots, though, had to end up settling for a 31-yard field goal by Andy Milligan (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville) after taking 6:25 off the clock, making it 10-0, and it remained that score through the end of the half.

Wooster began the second half with the ball, and after returning the kickoff to its 33-yard line, marched 67 yards over nine plays, ending on a 17-yard Sheppard touchdown rush over left end. The key play was Schafer’s 14-yard scramble for a first down on 3rd-and-12, and he also completed a 28-yard pass to Swearingen.

Trailing 17-0, the Bishops elected to go for it on 4th-and-1 from their own 32 on the next possession. OWU turned it over on downs, giving the Scots a short field and they took advantage with a 3-play touchdown drive. Sheppard scored from two yards out after being set up inside the 5-yard line, courtesy of a 27-yard pass to Aaron Gertz (Bay Village, Ohio / Bay).

That completed the scoring, however, the Bishops threatened to put up points again, driving it inside the Wooster 10. The Scots then picked off a pass in the end zone again, this time with a tipped ball coming down in the hands of linebacker Greg Schermbeck (Toledo, Ohio / Whitmer). It marked Schermbeck’s first career interception.

Overall, Wooster outgained its hosts 331-136, including holding OWU to 35 yards on the ground and just 1.1 yards per rush attempt. The Scots had five sacks on the day and limited the Bishops to just 1-of-9 third-down conversions. Leading Wooster’s defense was Vitalbo with nine tackles, while Schermbeck and Watson each were credited with eight tackles, and also of note, the trio tallied 1.5 sacks apiece.

Offensively, Schafer completed his first six pass attempts en route to a 14-of-21, 215-yard day. His top target was once again Peltz, who ended up with five catches for 68 yards, and Sheppard rushed for a game-high 75 yards on 19 carries.

OWU’s Steve Hymes went 12-of-18 through the air for 101 yards, while Nick Rice was the Bishops’ leading receiver (4 catches for 39 yards) and rusher (12 runs for 51 yards).

The Scots are at another winless opponent next Saturday afternoon – Hiram College (0-5, 0-2 NCAC).