WOOSTER, Ohio - The College of Wooster football team's defense stole the spotlight early with two three-and-outs to start the game, before 17th-ranked Wittenberg University found its grove offensively en route to a 41-13 win in the North Coast Athletic Conference rivals' annual clash on Saturday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.
Wooster's (1-4, 1-3 NCAC) defense stifled Wittenberg (4-0, 3-0 NCAC) on the opening drive with cornerback Christian Santos and linebacker Marcus Bowers breaking up passes on the Tigers' second- and third-down plays. Then, on the next drive, Kea'Shaun Phillips came up from his safety position and drove Wittenberg ball carrier Nick Kendall back for a three-yard loss on a third-and-1 play.
However, Wittenberg started clicking on its next drive as Jake Kennedy knifed into the end zone from five yards out to cap an 8-play, 78-yard drive with :48 remaining in the first quarter.
The Tigers kept clawing away on their next two possessions and came away with touchdowns both times. First, Jaheem Washington scampered in on the ground for a 2-yard score, and then on the next drive, Jake Kennedy connected on a 19-yard strike to Luke Landis, which made it 21-0 with 5:28 left in the first half.
Prior to the 19-yard Kennedy-to-Landis touchdown, Wooster was able to gain some momentum as the Scots crossed over into Tiger territory for the first time of the afternoon. Russell Boston provided the big spark on that drive with back-to-back 14-yard receptions, setting Wooster up at midfield. However, the drive stalled just shy of the red zone when Dustin Holmes picked off a pass at the 1-yard line on a play that started from the 23.
Wittenberg tacked on a 50-yard field goal by Will Gingery and a 5-yard touchdown strike from Kennedy to Jeff Tiffner before the half to take a 31-0 lead into the locker room.
After Wittenberg made it 34-0 on a Gingery 21-yard field goal, freshman Brandon Adams jump-started the offense with an 82-yard kick return, setting Wooster up at Wittenberg's 18-yard line. From there, the ground game took over, and marching Wooster into the end zone for the first time of the afternoon three plays later.
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| Freshman Nick Cummings helped set up both of Wooster's scoring drives with an 11-yard reverse on the first and a 43-yard reception on the second. |
First, Nick Cummings took a reverse 11 yards, moving Wooster inside the 10-yard line. Then, Antonio Bailey barged forward on two carries, the second which came from two yards out for the Scots' first points of the day.
As has been the theme for a majority of Wooster's scores this year, the passing game set up the Scots' second touchdown of the day on the very next drive. Cummings again moved the chains inside the 10-yard line, this time via a 43-yard reception on a second-and-10 play, setting Wooster up at the 2-yard line. From there, Bailey took the handoff and capped the scoring drive for his second touchdown of the afternoon.
Earlier in the drive, Gary Muntean had two big completions to Christian Pinnock that went for 10 and 25 yards after Wooster started the drive at its own 20-yard line.
Wittenberg's second-half scoring was capped by a 3-yard Kennedy-to-Jair Knox touchdown strike that was sandwiched in between Wooster's touchdowns.
Muntean led the offense, completing 23-of-32 passes for 257 yards on the afternoon. The junior signal-caller spread the ball out to eight different receivers with Pinnock leading that group with five receptions for 65 yards.
On the ground, Bailey rushed for 30 yards on 11 carries, two of which went for scores.
Defensively, four Scots – Patrick Johnson, Riley Markko, KC Okoronkwo, and Santos – all had eight tackles for Wooster.
Wittenberg's Kennedy completed 16-of-23 passes for 265 yards and three scores, while Landis hauled in six receptions for 127 stripes.
Jack Kayser led the Tigers' defense with 10 tackles.
Notable, at the midway point of the 2016 season, Wooster has two more rushing touchdowns (10) than it did all of last season.
Wooster is idle next week, but returns to action with a 3 p.m. clash at Oberlin College (0-5, 0-4) on Saturday, Oct. 15.