Senior wide receiver Tate Journell toe tapped the edge of the end zone twice for a pair of touchdowns, and The College of Wooster football team's defense kept Wittenberg University in check all afternoon in the Fighting Scots' 14-12 win at John P. Papp Stadium.
Wooster (3-2, 2-1 North Coast Athletic Conference) took the lead with 1:50 remaining in the first half when Journell's right foot came down in bounds along the edge of the end zone on an 8-yard touchdown reception. First-year Ryker Green burst through the right side of Wittenberg's (2-3, 1-2 NCAC) defense for a 20-yard gain at the start of the drive, then Wooster moved up 28 yards when sophomore Chance Bennett secured a 28-yard catch surrounded by a trio of Tigers. On the next play, Boyle connected with Journell on the sideline in the end zone for the go-ahead score.
In the third quarter, Journell had just enough space to get a foot down on a 2-yard touchdown reception with 1:45 remaining. First-year Nolan Hendricks' extra point upped the lead to 14-3. Wooster benefitted from a Wittenberg pass interference penalty in the end zone, which gave the Scots an automatic first down at the Tigers' 2-yard line.
Wittenberg was within 14-12 when Summer Shroyer knocked a 30-yard field goal through the uprights with 7:15 remaining in the fourth. The Tigers took over on Wooster's 12-yard line on a fumble recovery, but the Scots' defense held. In fact, Wittenberg went backwards a yard prior to Shroyer's field goal. Josiah Payne looked to break a run up the middle on second down, but Wooster junior Quan Russell burst through the line, stopped Payne, then the rest of the Scots' defense cleaned up on the tackle for the 1-yard loss.
After Wooster gained possession following Shroyer's field goal, sloppiness by Wittenberg enabled the Scots to keep the offense on the field for the remaining 7:10 of Saturday's game. A pass interference penalty well downfield on a third-and-7 snap gave the Scots a fresh set of downs on their own 32-yard line. Then, Wittenberg forced Wooster into a punting situation with about four minutes remaining only to see one of their players rough Hendricks after the punt was away. That resulted in a second automatic first-down penalty against the Tigers in the final seven minutes.
Boyle completed 17-of-30 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Journell caught seven passes for 46 yards and the pair of scores. Wooster rushed for a season-best 127 yards, 93 of which came from sophomore Bryson Douglas on 24 carries.
Defensively, senior Braydon Hudson led the way with nine tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a sack. Senior Louie Lindsay followed with seven tackles.
Wittenberg was forced to go with backup Stephen Lauterbach at quarterback, and he was inaccurate all afternoon, completing just 5-of-17 passes for 44 yards. Payne averaged 10.6 yards over nine carries. Luke Jackson paced the defense with 11 tackles.
Key to Wooster's win was slowing the game down in an effort to keep the offense on the field as long as possible. Wooster utilized a huddle throughout the game, and that led to the Scots having possession for 40:37.
Wooster ran 72 plays to Wittenberg's 43. The Tigers had under 200 yards of offense and went just 3-of-11 on third down.
Next, Denison University (2-2, 1-1 NCAC) is in town for a 7 p.m. game on Saturday, Oct. 11. Wooster is looking to reclaim possession of the Old Red Lantern for the first time since 2013.