Wooster's 21-7 Lead Slips Away, as Scots Fall at Allegheny

The College of Wooster scored three touchdowns covering 50-plus yards, all in the second quarter, but it was not enough as Allegheny College came back for a 24-21 triumph during the teams' annual North Coast Athletic Conference match-up played Saturday afternoon in Meadville, Pa.

Both entered the day with just one league loss and hopes of winning out to force a share of the 2009 NCAC title, but when a 38-yard field goal attempt by Wooster strayed right with 1:04 left, Allegheny remained the lone squad, besides first-place Wittenberg University, in control of its destiny.

Right after the Gators (7-1, 4-1 NCAC) broke a scoreless tie on quarterback T.J. Salopek's seven-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, the Fighting Scots (4-4, 3-2 NCAC) began their series of long plays. First, tight end Cameron Daniels took an Austin Holter pass 51 yards for Wooster's initial score, completing a six-play, 75-yard drive.

A few series later, Taylor Trout halted an Allegheny drive with an interception, and three plays after that, Jordan McIntyre broke off a 63-yard catch-and-run to give the Scots a 14-7 lead with :46 remaining in the half.

With so little time left, it appeared that would be the score going into the break, but then Trout came up with a second big play, turning a punt into a 55-yard return for a touchdown – the first of the sophomore's career – at the :06 mark. Suddenly, Wooster appeared to be in command with a 21-7 cushion.

The only scoring of the third quarter came when a 45-yard Salopek-to-Jake Vite pass set up a 39-yard field goal for Ryan Zipf, as the Gators crept within 21-10.

The Scots nearly returned the favor early in the fourth quarter, but a 44-yard field goal glanced off the left upright. Allegheny turned around and marched 73 yards in eight plays, keyed by a 48-yard catch-and-run for Vite. That put the ball at the Wooster three, and on 2nd-and-goal, Salopek hit Vite on a fade pattern for the touchdown, which made the score 21-17 with 8:44 on the clock.

The ensuing offensive series started well for the Scots. They got two first downs, advancing into Gator territory, but then fumbled it away for the lone turnover of the game. Allegheny took over on the Wooster 48-yard line and Salopek had the Gators back in the end zone six plays later as he went 4-of-4 through the air for 40 yards and rushed it for eight yards, including the last two of the decisive drive.

The Scots' final possession began at their own 42 with 4:40 left. They picked up three first downs, including one on a 4th-and-6 play, before the drive stalled out at the Allegheny 21 where the potential game-tying field goal hooked right, sealing the outcome.

Overall, Holter led all rushers with 50 net yards on 12 attempts and he was 14-of-33 passing for 223 yards and the two touchdowns without a turnover. The top receiver was McIntyre, who finished with four catches and 86 yards, while Robert Flagg contributed 43 rushing yards and 28 receiving.

For the Gators, Salopek completed 27-of-43 for 312 yards, with Vite as his top target as he accounted for 168 yards on nine receptions.

Wooster will look to send out its seniors on a high note next Saturday, as they make their final appearance at John P. Papp Stadium when Oberlin College (1-7, 1-4 NCAC) visits for a 1 p.m. kickoff.