Joe Stoffer

The College of Wooster couldn't quite keep up the scoring pace with Wittenberg University, as the North Coast Athletic Conference match-up turned into an offensive showdown with a combined 105 points and 1,020 yards as well as 61 first downs, and the No. 18 ranked Tigers secured the win, 66-39, in Springfield, Ohio, Saturday night.

It was not the highest scoring game in the two rivals' all-time series. That still goes to the 64-58 game Wooster won in 2004, which helped secure an NCAC championship for the Fighting Scots.

This year's rebuilding Wooster team, now 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference, is likely out of the running for a championship, but it has produced a series of exciting games with its new up-tempo style, maybe none better than Saturday's.

Wittenberg (5-1, 5-0 NCAC) scored a touchdown just 1:24 into the action. Shortly after, Labaron Sylvester halted the Tigers' second possession with an interception, the fourth takeaway the Scot safety has been part of this season.

A long punt return set up Wittenberg's second score, as the hosts needed to go just 18 yards in four plays to take a 14-0 lead around the midway point of the first quarter.

Wooster's offense got moving on the ensuing series, with quarterback Richard Barnes and running back Chase Ullman combining for all of the touches on a six-play, 54-yard touchdown march. On 4th-and-2 from the seven-yard line, Barnes found a hole for the score, but the Scots missed the point after.

The Tigers answered right back, with the first of quarterback Reed Florence's school-record six passing touchdowns on the day, for a 21-6 advantage late in the opening quarter.

A Wittenberg drive stalled out early in the second, but it still added a 27-yard field goal (24-6), kick-starting a 43-point quarter between the two teams.

Wooster got back within two scores when Barnes connected with Jesse Lane in the back of the end zone, covering 12 yards and marking the sophomore tight end's first career touchdown, however, the extra point was blocked this time and the score stood 24-12.

The Tigers needed just a combined eight offensive plays to produce touchdowns on their next two series, catching a slight break on the second as Desi Kirkman recovered a teammate's fumble in the end zone for the score, to build a 38-12 advantage.

Next, it was the Scots turn to string together back-to-back touchdowns, first an Ullman four-yard rush capping a nine-play, 66-yard possession. Then, Ian Crawford recovered a Wittenberg fumble, and two plays later, Barnes hit Nate Kleinman for a four-yard score, the first touchdown of the junior wide receiver's career, and Wooster was within striking distance at 38-25.

Unfortunately for the undermanned Scots, there was still plenty of time for the Tigers to answer and they did, marching 67 yards in just six plays to push their lead to 45-25 at halftime.

Wooster started the second half by getting pinned back in its own end due to a penalty on the kickoff and eventually punted away to Wittenberg, which took the ball 51 yards to another touchdown, this time Florence taking it himself from seven yards away.

The Scots then turned it over on downs after not converting a 4th-and-3 play around midfield, while the Tigers followed by converting a 4th-and-12 into a 30-yard Florence-to-Zac Wilson touchdown pass, which all but sealed the outcome as it was 59-25 at that time.

Wooster would go on to add a late third quarter touchdown via a Barnes one-yard run, and the teams exchanged touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Barnes hitting Joe Stoffer, who was the starting running back for the first time in his career, on a six-yard screen play for the Scots' final score.

Statistically, Barnes finished with his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game (101) plus 182 yards on 15-of-30 passing. He was part of five touchdowns (two rushing, three passing) and made one turnover, and Justin Rice was the leading receiver with four catches and 48 yards.

Florence finished the night 22-of-32 through the air for 333 yards and the six scores, and netted another 80 stripes on the ground.

The Scots will look to finish the season strong, starting with a visit from Denison University (4-2, 3-2 NCAC) in the "Old Red Lantern" rivalry game next Saturday night.