Stephen McKinney

The College of Wooster opens North Coast Athletic Conference action a bit earlier than normal, as after one non-league game, Oberlin College (1-0) now visits 4,500-seat John P. Papp Stadium Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, for the teams' 2013 NCAC debut. The conference is playing a round-robin schedule for the first time since 1999, and from 1984-99, there were only seven-to-nine schools, thus 2013 marks the NCAC's initial nine-game schedule. Wooster is anxious to showcase its improvements from week one's 58-21 loss to perennial power Washington & Jefferson College, while Oberlin is eager to take the field again following its first victory, 19-2, over Case Western Reserve University since the 1982 season – a stretch of 28 meetings. Saturday's 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 on the radio station's website at http://wkvx.com/.

Also, for all five home games, the audio and video from local cable provider MCTV, Inc., will be broadcast live over the web at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/wooster.portal#.

All-Time Series: Wooster has played Oberlin more often than any other opponent, but the series is very one-sided with the Scots owning a 65-22-2 advantage. Since 1986, Wooster has emerged victorious in 22 of 23, including a 16-game win streak (1986-2002). On Oct. 11, 2003, the Yeomen upset a then-No. 13 ranked Wooster team 14-7.

Contrasting Styles: This year's Oberlin-Wooster tilt appears to be one of contrasting styles. The Scots employ a new, up-tempo offense, as they combined for 160 offensive plays with Washington & Jefferson College in the opener, which was also the eighth-highest scoring game (79 combined points) in NCAA Div. III that week. The Yeomen, on the other hand, appear to want to grind-it-out, as they and Case Western Reserve University only totaled 122 offensive plays and 21 points, the fifth-lowest scoring Div. III game of week two.

Season Opener: On Sept. 7, a slow start doomed the Fighting Scots, who were trying to break in new starters at virtually every position as well as new offensive and defensive schemes, as Washington & Jefferson College scored 28 first-quarter points, including a pick six, and eventually secured a 58-21 decision in front of a near-capacity crowd at John P. Papp Stadium.

Washington & Jefferson scored touchdowns on its first two offensive possessions, then when Wooster's offense had moved the ball just outside of the red zone on its second series, corner Marlon Brown made a good read on a wide receiver screen pass, picked the ball off, and returned it 75 yards to make it 21-0 just 7:31 into the action.

The Scots settled in after that. In fact, the very next drive, they went 66 yards in just five plays, with the key plays being a Keir Pace (Columbus, Ohio / South) catch-and-run for 33 yards and Richard Barnes (Painesville, Ohio / Harvey) hitting a well-covered Justin Rice (Concord, Ohio / Harvey) in the left side of the end zone from 18 yards away for the score.

After the Presidents tacked on another touchdown to make it 28-7 near the end of one quarter, the two offenses exchanged touchdown marches on the first three series of the second. Freshman Darrian Owens (Wooster, Ohio / Wooster) snagged a six-yard touchdown reception from Barnes that brought Wooster within 21 again (35-14), but Washington & Jefferson answered for a 42-14 lead, which remained the score at halftime.

For the Scots, the second half was highlighted by a two-play, 76-yard drive late in the third quarter. First, Barnes found tight end Jesse Lane (Ironton, Ohio / Rock Hill) up the middle of the field for a 44-yard pass, and on the very next play, running back Sean Hackel (Farmington, N.Y. / Victor) found a hole on the right side, then sprinted down the sideline for a 32-yard score. It marked the junior's first career touchdown.

Overall, Barnes finished the night 9-of-23 for 183 yards. His numbers could have been better, but there were several dropped passes, while Hackel combined for 222 all-purpose yards, 148 rushing on 29 carries in his first collegiate start in the offensive backfield.

One of the game's defensive standouts was Labaron Sylvester (LaPlace, La. / East St. John), who forced one fumble and recovered another for Wooster.

Defense Reshuffled: The coaching staff made a series of positional changes to help improve the performance on the defensive side. Senior Brendon Taylor (Aliquippa, Pa. / Hopewell), who started the opener at defensive end, will now be one of the starting strong safety's, and making their first career starts on the defensive line will be sophomore end Stephen McKinney (Lampasas, Texas / Lampasas) and freshman tackle Todd Ulmer (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield Area). At linebacker, junior Mitchell Czerniak (Newton Falls, Ohio / Newton Falls) has been upgraded to a starter, and in the defensive backfield, sophomore Vinnie Congedo (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Noth Allegheny), who started the opener as a strong safety, will start at one cornerback, and classmate Labaron Sylvester (LaPlace, La. / East St. John), who opened at corner, will be the safety of the 4-2-5 alignment.