Late Plays by Holter, Sheppard Key Fighting Scots' 13-9 Win

Dustin Sheppard ran for the game-winning score and became Wooster's 10th 2,000-yard rusher in the process.

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster converted on 4th-and-8 late in the game, then running back Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) burst through the middle for a 34-yard touchdown on the ensuing play to give the Fighting Scots a 13-9 lead over Ohio Wesleyan University with 2:58 remaining, and that would be the final score during the teams’ North Coast Athletic Conference battle Saturday afternoon at an unseasonably warm and humid John P. Papp Stadium.

Wooster (1-4, 1-1 NCAC) was facing the prospect of starting a season 0-5 for the first time since 1988, but on the aforementioned 4th-down play, the offensive line gave quarterback Austin Holter (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) plenty of time to find Will Miska (Hillsborough, N.J. / Hillsborough) near the left sideline for an 11-yard gain. Also of note, Holter scrambled for 10 yards on the prior play to give the Fighting Scots a realistic chance of converting the first down.

Next, Sheppard took the handoff, slipped past a couple of would-be tacklers, and made it into the end zone for what turned out to be the game’s lone touchdown. The 34-yard jaunt gave Sheppard 2,000 rushing yards for his career, just the 10th in school history to achieve that feat.

Ohio Wesleyan (1-4, 1-2 NCAC) returned the ensuing kickoff to its own 35-yard line. From there, the Battling Bishops completed two passes, including one on 4th-and-4, which was close to a first down. However, the measurement revealed they were inches short, and Wooster took over on downs at the 44.

The Scots ran the ball seven consecutive plays, making two first downs and working the clock down before turning it back over to Ohio Wesleyan on the 1-yard line with just :11 remaining. The Bishops attempted two long passes as time ran out.

Prior to Sheppard’s touchdown, it was a battle of defenses and field goals.

Wooster scored on the initial possession of the game, marching 47 yards on 11 plays before settling for a 19-yard field goal by Andy Milligan (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville). That turned out to be the only points of the opening half.

The other highlight of the first half was a 63-yard punt from the Scots’ Kevin Friedman (Pepper Pike, Ohio / St. Peter Chanel). It marked the first 60-yard punt by Wooster since Sept. 4, 1999, when Matt Mahaffey booted a 61-yarder at Grove City College.

Ohio Wesleyan’s first two drives of the third quarter resulted in Chris Kras field goals of 24 and 20 yards, as the Bishops took a 6-3 edge. Ohio Wesleyan advanced the ball inside the 10-yard line each time, however, the Scots’ defense made a stand each time.

Later in the third, a tight end screen pass to Ben Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) went 55 yards for Wooster, and the Scots would tie it up 6-6 via a 38-yard Milligan field goal.

On the ensuing possession, the Bishops moved 47 yards to inside the 20 and elected to go for it on a 4th-and-8 play. Wooster forced an incompletion to get the ball back.

After a three-and-out by the Scot offense, Ohio Wesleyan would march 54 yards to the Wooster 1-yard line. The Scot defense then made its biggest stand, stopping three-straight runs to force a Kras 18-yard field goal, which gave the Bishops a 9-6 lead. That would allow Wooster to win the game with Sheppard’s touchdown.

For the game, Sheppard produced his first 100-yard game of the season, netting 116 on 20 carries. He now has 2,052 rushing yards for his career. Backfield mate Orlando Jones (Elyria, Ohio / Elyria) added 64 yards on 15 rushes, while Holter completed 14-of-27 passes for 158 yards.

Leading Ohio Wesleyan was quarterback Andy Boff, who was 13-of-19 passing for 175 yards, with his top target being Zach Dennis as he caught seven for 106 yards. Steven Brown led the Bishops’ multi-faceted rushing attack with 74 yards on 19 carries.

The Scots are home again next Saturday, as they welcome in winless Hiram College (0-5, 0-2 NCAC) for a 1 p.m. kickoff.