Richard Barnes and the Fighting Scots' offense were clicking early Saturday night. (photo courtesy of Washington & Jefferson)

The College of Wooster opened up an early lead on Washington & Jefferson College, a perennial NCAA Div. III playoff participant, and was within a touchdown at halftime (24-17), but the Presidents held the upper hand during the first few possessions of the second half and pulled away to a 51-17 decision in the teams' season opener Saturday night at a rainy Cameron Stadium in Washington, Pa.

Despite the eventual setback for Wooster, guided by second-year head coach Frank Colaprete, it was still a significant improvement to last year's match-up when Washington & Jefferson opened up a 42-14 halftime lead en route to a 37-point triumph.

This time, Wooster accounted for the opening 10 points. Following two stops by the defense, the Scots hit for a big play as Richard Barnes found Darrian Owens down the middle of the field for a 61-yard touchdown strike and 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

A third defensive stop, this one a three-and-out, allowed Wooster to take over near midfield, and on its next offensive snap Barnes and Owens hooked up for a 40-yard gain to get inside the red zone. It appeared the Scots would go ahead 14-0 when Sean Hackel ran in from one yard out, however, they were assessed an illegal formation penalty and wound up settling for a 20-yard field goal by freshman Trevor Bowden.

It remained 10-0 until the Presidents marched their way to a 10-play, 79-yard touchdown drive on their fifth possession, which ended early in the second quarter.

Wooster answered right back, covering 77 yards in seven plays, capped by a Barnes-to-Owens touchdown connection from 29 yards away to make it 17-7 with 10:52 before half.

From there, the momentum shifted dramatically and quickly to the hosts as they gained the lead just 3:55 later. Washington & Jefferson went 65 yards in just five offensive plays for a touchdown, then, after a Scot interception, had to go just 15 yards for another and a 21-17 advantage.

The Scots' defense bounced back with a Mitchell Czerniak interception and by holding the Presidents to a field goal right before the half that made it a 24-17 game.

Coming out of halftime, Wooster had the first offensive possession, and thus, a chance to tie the game. Instead, a three-and-out and a poor punt was followed by a Washington & Jefferson nine-play, 51-yard touchdown march. The next sequence was nearly identical – a three-and-out, in which the Scots lost yardage, then a six-play, 60-yard scoring drive to push the margin to 38-17.

The Presidents tacked on two more touchdowns during the fourth quarter.

The loss overshadows a standout game for Wooster's Owens, who tallied 152 receiving yards on just five catches. Hackel hit the 100-yard rushing mark with 108 coming on 27 carries, while Barnes completed 8-of-20 passes for 183 yards.

The Scots limited Washington & Jefferson's Ryan Ruffing to a 4.1 rushing average, however, he piled up 150 yards (37 attempts) and scored five touchdowns.

Wooster will now regroup during its bye week and return to action on Saturday night, Sept. 20, at North Coast Athletic Conference foe Oberlin College (0-1). The Yeomen will be making their debut in the new Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex.