Jayne, Milligan Named NCAC Players of the Week

The College of Wooster’s Ryan Jayne (East Palestine, Ohio / East Palestine) and Adam Milligan (Orrville, Ohio / Orrville) were selected as North Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Week in their respective sports, announced the league office late Sunday. It was the NCAC’s first set of weekly awards for the 2003-04 academic year.

Jayne, a 5-9, 170-pound junior cornerback, made the decisive play in Wooster’s season opener — a 45-36 win over Hope College on Sept. 6. With the Scots clinging to a 28-21 lead late in the third quarter, Hope moved the ball to the Wooster 5-yard line, and on a third-and-goal play, Jayne stepped in front of a pass at the goal line. He then raced down the right sideline 100 yards for a touchdown, marking the longest interception return in school history and the second pick of his career. Jayne also had five tackles.

Milligan, a 6-2, 185-pound junior forward who missed most of last year due to a leg injury, booted in three goals last week, leading the Scots to a win and a tie. Against Capital University on Sept. 2, Milligan had the game-tying goal late in the second half and then knocked in the game-winner 7:42 into overtime to give Wooster a 3-2 victory. He followed that up with the Scots’ lone score in their 1-1 deadlock with Mt. Union College on Sept. 6, helping extend Wooster’s regular season unbeaten streak to 24 matches.

The Scots’ football team, ranked No. 24 by D3football.com, has a bye this week, while the booters, rated No. 6 in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region, also have a light week with just one match slated. They will host undefeated John Carroll University (3-0) on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.