Fighting Scots Aiming to Get Back on Track in Home Opener

Trey Simmerman

The College of Wooster, which saw its 16-game win streak against non-conference competition (regular season games only) finally come to an end in the 2007 opener, will attempt to return to its winning ways this Saturday afternoon, Sept. 8, when Waynesburg College (1-0) visits 4,500-seat John P. Papp Stadium for the Fighting Scots’ home opener. In order to avoid an 0-2 start for the first time since the 1995 season, Wooster will have to defeat an up-and-coming program in Waynesburg, which has won seven of its last eight games dating back to last year and was picked to finish second in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference by the league’s coaches. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT.

On the Air: Wooster’s football games can be heard live each week in the Wooster area on WKVX 960 AM, or anywhere in the world on the College’s Web site (www.wooster.edu/interactive/). This week’s game will be called by Dan Earich and Ron Hamilton.

Saturday’s game will also be televised on tape delay in Wooster by Clear Picture, Inc. Handling the play-by-play as usual will be Jon Heavlin and Dan Wingate provides color commentary. It will be aired on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., followed by additional broadcasts on Sunday and Monday at noon and 3 p.m. each day.  

All-Time Series: Waynesburg and Wooster have met on the gridiron just two times previously. Last season, the Scots prevailed 31-10 in southwestern Pennsylvania, while the only other game was also at Waynesburg way back on Oct. 8, 1955, when Wooster triumphed 27-12. So, Saturday will mark the first time Waynesburg has ever played at Wooster.  

Against the PAC: The Scots have played a team from the Presidents’ Athletic Conference 10 of the last 11 seasons, and hold a 10-0 record in such games. In addition to beating Waynesburg 31-10 last fall, Wooster swept a home-and-home series with Bethany College (69-7 in 2003, 38-28 in 2002) and won seven close meetings versus Grove City College (28-13 in 2004, 6-0 in 2001, 27-7 in 2000, 31-28 in 1999, 26-17 in 1998, 10-3 in 1997, and 7-6 in 1996).

Home Openers: The Scots have triumphed in nine of their last 10 home openers, including the last four. Over the last decade, Wooster’s only loss in a home opener was a heartbreaker to Kalamazoo College (39-37 in 2001).   

Last Week: Fellow northeast Ohio foe John Carroll University shutout the Scots 24-0 during the 2007 opener for both squads. Wooster, which knocked off John Carroll 30-22 last year, had 11 players (five offense, six defense) making their first career start, and that inexperience showed at times.

The Blue Streaks returned the opening kickoff to the Wooster 46-yard line and then proceeded to march the remainder of the field in seven plays, capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass after a 4th-and-1 conversion.

It remained 7-0 deep into the second quarter before John Carroll would produce the game’s longest play – a 47-yard touchdown pass at the 3:29 mark. On the ensuing possession, the Scots fumbled two different snaps, with the second one being recovered by the Blue Streaks on the Wooster 25. From there, the Scots’ defense held John Carroll to a 27-yard field goal, which made it 17-0 going into the break.

In the second half, Wooster went three-and-out on the initial possession while the Blue Streaks drove  63 yards over nine plays for a touchdown on their first possession. They converted two long 3rd-down plays, including 3rd-and-26 from the Wooster 40, and the following play resulted in a nine-yard touchdown run. That turned out to be the final points.

The Scots’ best scoring opportunity came in the fourth quarter, as they advanced the ball from their own 21 to inside John Carroll’s 10-yard line, however, they eventually turned it over.

Individual highlights for Wooster came from junior punter Kevin Friedman (Pepper Pike, Ohio / St. Peter Chanel), who averaged 44.0 yards and landed two of his five attempts inside the 20-yard line, and freshman defensive end Luke Drake (Valrico, Fla. / Newsome), who had a sack on his first collegiate play.

Making his first start at quarterback, Scot sophomore Austin Holter (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) completed 10-of-21 passes for 107 yards and also exhibited the ability to run the ball, netting 24 yards. Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) combined for 105 all-purpose yards, rushing for 57 on 16 carries and adding 48 on two receptions.

Defensively, Wooster limited the Blue Streaks to 2.9 yards per rushing attempt and produced three sacks as well as three pass breakups. Senior outside linebacker Trey Simmerman (Clarksburg, W.Va. / Notre Dame) led the way individually with 14 tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble, during his first career start.

Depth Chart Notes: There were a couple of changes on the two-deep after game one, as senior defensive tackle Aaron Patterson (Steubenville, Ohio / Steubenville) and freshman defensive end Luke Drake (Valrico, Fla. / Newsome) have been promoted to starters. Noteworthy, Patterson, who was in on a career-high three tackles at John Carroll, was formerly a key member of the offensive line, starting all 10 games at left guard in 2005.

This and That: Over the last 33 non-conference games, the Scots are 28-5 overall (.848), including the two NCAA Div. III playoff games in 2004 ... Junior running back Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) is just 154 yards shy of becoming the 10th player in school history to reach the 2,000-yard milestone for career rushing ... Wooster has not produced a passing touchdown since last season’s Hail Mary against Allegheny College (Oct. 21) – a stretch of four games.