WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster opened with 23 unanswered points, weathered a Hiram College comeback bid, and then outscored the Terriers 13-0 during the fourth quarter for a 39-24 North Coast Athletic Conference victory to delight the large Homecoming crowd on Saturday night at John P. Papp Stadium.

Wooster (2-1, 2-0 NCAC), which received a 200-yard rushing performance (205) from Sean Hackel, raced out to a 14-0 lead, with both touchdowns coming on Richard Barnes-to-Tyler Smith pass plays. The first one covered 16 yards and ended a 12-play, 81-yard, game-opening drive, and the second went for 24 yards, following two lengthy runs by Hackel and Barnes as the offense went 72 yards in three plays.

On the Fighting Scots' third possession, they turned it over via an interception at the Hiram (2-2, 1-2 NCAC) two-yard line. However, on the next snap, the defense, led by Brandon James, swarmed a running back in the end zone for a safety and 16-0 lead with 5:17 still left in the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, freshman safety Patrick Johnson intercepted the Terriers, putting the offense in good field position. Hackel completed the five-play, 25-yard series with a one-yard touchdown rush, and Wooster was seemingly in command with a 23-0 advantage and 4:41 on the clock.

Tyler Smith, who had two receiving touchdowns, directs blockers up field during a 78-yard kickoff return during the third quarter.

Hiram, though, would score two touchdowns in that span, first David Perkins getting loose for a 29-yard scoring run, and following the Scots' third turnover, quarterback Robert Partridge snuck it in from one yard out right before the half to make it a 23-14 game.

The two teams exchanged field goals – a 39-yarder by the Terriers' Greg Klisuric and a 26-yarder off the foot of Wooster freshman Trevor Bowden – early in the third quarter.

Late in the third, Hiram closed to within 26-24 when Partridge found Akili Tate open in the end zone from 29 yards away.

After a penalty on the ensuing kickoff buried the Scots inside their own 10-yard line, they responded with a clutch 11-play, 93-yard drive. Darrian Owens made a key play, hauling in a 37-yard pass down the right sideline, and Barnes found Keir Pace in the middle of the field for an 18-yard touchdown. A high snap on the point after attempt kept it a one-possession game, 32-24 with 12:46 remaining.

Following a missed field goal by Hiram, a series of long Hackel runs – 17, 13, and 32 yards – set Wooster up at the five-yard line. Next, Barnes lofted the ball to Owens in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown and 39-24 cushion at the 7:59 mark.

Shawn Bowman and Tyson Vogel each had interceptions to keep the Terriers off the scoreboard their final two possessions.

Statistically, Hackel became the first Scot with a 200-yard rushing game since quarterback Brett Frongillo hit the mark during the 2011 season, and he added 66 receiving on six catches for 271 all-purpose yards.

Barnes also notched a 100-yard rushing day – the fifth of the quarterback's career – to go with 257 passing while completing 21-of-29 attempts through the air. Owens had a team-high 79 receiving yards.

For Hiram, Danny Robinson rushed for 139 yards on just 13 carries and Partridge finished 20-of-47 for 264 yards, with seven completions going to Nate Eaton for 113 yards.

Next Saturday, the Scots face their biggest test to date, traveling to No. 12 ranked Wabash College (3-0, 2-0 NCAC) for a 1 p.m. kickoff.