Sheppard Runs for Freshman-Record 250 Yards in 20-19 Win

Dustin Sheppard

Dustin Sheppard (Newark, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) rushed for the most yards in a game by a freshman in College of Wooster history, which paired with a couple of late defensive stands gave the Fighting Scots a thrilling 20-19 victory at Oberlin College in North Coast Athletic Conference play Saturday.

Wooster (5-2, 2-2 NCAC) sealed the end of its two-game losing skid when sophomore cornerback Jeff Geffert (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) intercepted a pass at the Scot eight-yard line with :10 remaining, ending Oberlin’s second scoring threat in the final minutes.

On their previous possession, the host Yeomen (2-5, 1-3 NCAC) drove the ball to the Wooster 28, and on 4th-and-6, elected to attempt a 45-yard field goal. The kick was short, but Oberlin got the ball back at its own 30-yard line with :48 left and no timeouts. The Yeomen used pass plays of 23 and 16 yards to move the ball to the Scot 31 before Geffert’s second interception of the game.

It was a close battle throughout. Early on, the two exchanged touchdowns, a Sheppard four-yard run on his second carry of what would be a 250-yard day and a 20-yard pass from Andy Stein to Cassius Harris for Oberlin, but Wooster led 7-6 after a missed extra point.

The Yeomen took their first lead early in the second quarter on a special teams play, as Vance Murphy blocked a Scot punt, recovered it himself, and took it 25 yards for a touchdown to make it 12-7. Oberlin, though, missed another point after attempt, which ultimately cost the Yeomen.

Wooster missed out on an opportunity to retake the lead late in the second, fumbling the ball out of the end zone to offset a 71-yard drive. That marked the fifth turnover of the first half between the teams, with three being committed by the Scots.

The third quarter started by a touchback on the kickoff and then Sheppard getting seven-straight rushing attempts, which he turned into 80 yards, highlighted by a game-high 44-yarder. He scored from five yards out to give his squad a 13-12 lead, but the Scots then failed on a two-point conversion attempt.

The ensuing kickoff was brought back by Chris Schubert 68 yards to the Wooster 20-yard line. The Scot defense forced Oberlin into a field goal attempt, but a juggled snap turned into a 15-yard touchdown from Schubert, the holder, to Mike Tomlinson, the kicker, resulting in a 19-13 lead for the Yeomen.

The two teams traded punts and a turnover apiece for the rest of the third.

The Scots got the ball back early in the fourth and put together their most efficient drive of the day, marching 69 yards over 12 plays and 5:55. It culminated on a Mike Marshall (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) five-yard touchdown reception from Justin Schafer (Bethesda, Ohio / Union Local). Andy Milligan (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville) converted the extra point (20-19), which turned out to be the difference.

Sheppard was the story of the game, as his 250 rushing yards were not only the most by a Wooster first-year, but the 10th-highest total in school history. He did it on only 33 carries, an average of 7.6 yards. The Yeomen’s leading rusher, R.V. Carroll, netted just 35 yards on 13 attempts.

Both teams struggled to pass the ball, as Schafer went 8-of-16 for 50 yards, with Ben Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) being his top target as the tight end caught four for 39 yards, and Oberlin using a pair of quarterbacks who combined to go 14-of-26 for 165 yards.

Overall, the Scots outgained the Yeomen 340-195. Each team turned it over four times.

In addition to Geffert’s two interceptions, which gives him three for the season, fellow sophomore corner Jalam Cutting (Akron, Ohio / Buchtel) intercepted his first career pass, running it back 41 yards to the Oberlin 14, which set up Sheppard’s first score.

Wooster returns home next week for a date with Hiram College (1-6, 1-3 NCAC) on Saturday at 1 p.m.