Scots Post Best Offensive Numbers of Year, But Fall to Wabash

Cornerback Keith Adams and linebacker Steve Custenborder gang tackle Wabash's Evan Sobecki during Wooster's 21-10 setback Saturday.

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster produced season-highs in first downs (22), rushing yards (236), and total offense (365), but it was not enough to upend nationally-ranked Wabash College, as the Little Giants escaped an overcast and wet John P. Papp Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a 21-10 win, and in so doing, clinched a share of the 2007 North Coast Athletic Conference championship.

Early on, it looked like Wooster (2-6, 2-3 NCAC) might be in for a long day, as an interception on the very first possession put Wabash (8-0, 6-0 NCAC) at the Fighting Scots’ 19-yard line. The Little Giants quickly took advantage of the opportunity, as four plays later, Brock Graham punched it in from the two-yard line for a 7-0 lead.

The two teams battled for field position the rest of the first quarter and Wooster had the advantage. However, with Wabash pinned back inside its own 10-yard line late in the period, the Little Giants’ Matt Hudson directed what would be a 92-yard touchdown drive. Hudson completed 7-of-9 passes for 69 yards, culminating in a seven-yard loft to the right side of the end zone where Mike Russell hauled it in at the 12:30 mark of the second quarter. Hudson also scrambled for 20 rushing yards on that possession.

Trailing 14-0, the Scots came right back with a score. They marched 56 yards to the Wabash one-yard line, with the key play being a 20-yard scramble on 3rd-and-11 by quarterback Austin Holter (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe). From the one, though, the Little Giants made a defensive stand and Wooster had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Andy Milligan (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville).

Each offense had one more series in the first half, but it remained 14-3.

The Scots’ defense forced a three-and-out to start the third quarter. Then, the offense drove 72 yards, keyed by a Holter 10-yard rush on 3rd-and-9 and a dump off pass to running back Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) that went 23 yards on 3rd-and-8, for a touchdown. Holter took it in himself on 2nd-and-goal from the four-yard line, pulling Wooster within 14-10.

On the very next offensive play, freshman linebacker Steve Custenborder (Rocky River, Ohio / Rocky River) intercepted Hudson at the Scot 39-yard line. However, Wooster turned it right back over on a sack and fumble, and Wabash would go the ensuing 36 yards for a touchdown, capped by a 12-yard slant pass from Hudson to Gabe Guerrero on 4th-and-3, which made it 21-10 late in the quarter.

Although there was no scoring during the fourth quarter, the Scots nearly made things interesting. They advanced the ball inside the Little Giants’ 20, but another drive stalled. Milligan’s 40-yard field goal, which would have made it a one-score game, had plenty of distance, but the attempt was wide right.

Wooster had one more opportunity late in regulation, as a bad snap on a punt attempt gave the Scots the ball on Wabash’s 43. Wooster drove to the six-yard line, however, on 3rd-and-goal, a pass to the right front corner of the end zone was tipped by a Little Giant defensive back and then hauled in by All-American linebacker Adrian Pynenberg for the interception to seal the game.

The Scots ended up with five more first downs and outgained Wabash 365-348, but were done in by scoring just 10 points during four trips inside the red zone.

Individually, Wooster had a pair of 100-yard rushers in Sheppard and Holter, who netted 111 and 105 yards, respectively, with each running 19 times. The last time that happened for the Scots was Oct. 21, 2006, when Sheppard (109 on 21 rushes) and quarterback Justin Schafer (101 on 18 rushes) accomplished the feat against Allegheny College.

In the passing game, Holter was 12-of-21 for 129 yards, with Will Miska (Hillsborough, N.J. / Hillsborough) being his favorite target, as the senior wideout had five receptions for 53 yards.

For Wabash, Hudson led the efficient offense, completing more than 80 percent of his passes (22-of-27) for 235 yards. Evan Sobecki paced the rushing attack with 64 yards on 11 attempts.

Wooster will travel to Earlham College (3-5, 2-3 NCAC) next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.