Quick Start Not Enough, as Wooster Falls at Wabash 20-10

Jeff Geffert

The College of Wooster scored 10 first-quarter points on a blustery Saturday in Crawfordsville, Ind., but Wabash College would later gain control of the game with touchdowns on back-to-back drives during the second half en route to a 20-10 victory, which essentially knocks the Fighting Scots out of the race for the 2006 North Coast Athletic Conference championship.

Wooster (6-2, 3-2 NCAC) had all the momentum early, as Jeff Geffert (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) intercepted a pass on the third offensive play of the game, giving the Scots possession on the Wabash 25-yard line. Four plays later, Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) was in the end zone on a 6-yard touchdown rush for a 7-0 Wooster lead just 2:34 into the action.

The Scot defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and a punt into the stiff wind handed the Wooster offense another short field to work with. Starting from the Little Giants’ 34, the Scots worked their way inside the 10 but Wabash’s defense stiffened there, holding Wooster out of the end zone on three-straight plays from the 1-yard line. Wooster ended up settling for an 18-yard field goal, courtesy of Dan Grangaard (Newark, Ohio / Newark).

With the wind at its back, Wabash (6-2, 5-1 NCAC) took advantage during the second quarter, winning the battle of the field position. The Little Giants, on their second possession of that period, marched 62 yards over 12 plays, with quarterback Dustin Huff sneaking it in from 1-yard out. Huff also ran on the key play of that scoring drive, scrambling 16 yards on a 3rd-and-15.

It was 10-6 at halftime, as Wabash missed the extra point on its touchdown.

After a Scot punt to start the third, Geffert made his second pickoff of the day, and fourth of 2006, returning it 79 yards from the 5-yard line all the way to the Little Giants’ 16. Wooster couldn’t’ take advantage this time, misfiring on a 33-yard field goal.

With the momentum back on its side, Wabash would respond with a quick scoring possession, going 80 yards in six plays. Huff completed back-to-back passes of 35 yards to Mike Russell and 33 yards to Andrew Rode, resulting in the Little Giants with 1st-and-goal at the 3-yard line. On 3rd down from the 1, Shane Keffer plunged in for the touchdown and a 13-10 lead.

As the fourth quarter began, Wabash started a drive on its own 20 and the Little Giants would go all 80 yards over 13 plays, ending on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Huff to Rode on 3rd-and-10. Wabash converted two other third downs on that possession as well as a 2nd-and-19 when Huff ran for 22 yards.

The Scots were unable to mount much of a comeback attempt, as they didn’t advance the ball into Little Giant territory during the final 9:11.

Statistically, Wabash ended up with a 369-160 advantage in total offense, led by Huff. He completed 22-of-32 passes for 281 yards and also served as the Little Giants’ leading rusher, netting 57 stripes on 18 attempts. His top target was Rode, who had six receptions for 87 yards after entering the game with just nine catches on the season.

For Wooster, Sheppard ended up with 71 rushing yards on 23 carries and quarterback Bobby Reiff (Bay Village, Ohio / Bay) was 9-of-18 for 96 yards.

Next Saturday, the Scots have their home finale against Earlham College (3-5, 1-4 NCAC) at 1 p.m.