Cornelius Gymafi

The College of Wooster's early-season challenging schedule continues this week with a trip to North Coast Athletic Conference rival and No. 24 ranked Wittenberg University (2-1, 1-1 NCAC) on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3. Wooster not only faces a tough task because its playing a second top-25 opponent this year, but it is also attempting to overcome a rash of injuries to key players as the Fighting Scots are expected to be without their top quarterback (David Smith) and a four-year starter on the offensive line (Paul Kelbly) for the second week in a row as well as two members of their defensive backfield (safety Christian Golden and strong safety Keith Lemke) who went down last week. Wittenberg, on the other hand, will look to bounce back from its first conference loss in 23 games, with No. 8 Wabash College pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 42-14 decision last Saturday. The last NCAC team, other than Wabash, to beat Wittenberg was Wooster (27-6 on Nov. 15, 2008). Game time at the Tigers' Edwards-Maurer Field is set for 1 p.m. EDT.

On the Air: Wooster's football games are broadcast each week by commercial radio station WKVX 960 AM and are streamed live on wkvx.com.

Also, Wittenberg will be providing a live video stream of the game at portal.stretchinternet.com/wit/.

All-Time Series: Wittenberg and Wooster have put on some very memorable games, with eight of the last 19 having been decided by eight points or less, highlighted by an epic in 2004, when the Scots won 64-58 in overtime after the Tigers came back from 48-17 and 58-37 deficits, and forced the extra session when they scored on 4th down from the 3-yard line with just :15 left. Despite all of the close games, Wittenberg has been a nemesis for Wooster, as the Tigers lead the all-time series 36-12-1.

Last Week: Wooster's defense came away with five takeaways, highlighted by a 42-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Stephen McKinney (Lampasas, Texas / Lampasas) that propelled the Scots to a 10-3 halftime lead, however, Denison University made a series of big plays during a 21-point third quarter to key its 31-17 NCAC victory in the teams' "Old Red Lantern" trophy game at John P. Papp Stadium.

With the game tied 3-3 late in the opening half, Wooster grabbed the momentum when freshman Marcus Bowers (Roseville, Mich. / Fraser) strip-sacked the Big Red quarterback and McKinney picked up the loose ball, then sprinted down the left sideline for the score at the 1:52 mark of the second quarter. It marked the Scots' first fumble recovery for a touchdown since Nov. 5, 2011.

That momentum switched sides on the very first play of the second half, as Wooster fumbled the kickoff return. Denison took advantage of the short field, going 35 yards in five plays to tie it, 10-10.

Three punts ensued, followed by the second key play of the third quarter. A short pass over the middle by the Big Red turned into a Dushawn Brown 73-yard touchdown reception. The 2014 NCAC Offensive Player of the Year made one tackler miss, but otherwise had a clear path to the end zone. Overall, the Scots kept the talented Brown in check, limiting him to just three catches on the day.

Behind for the first time (17-10), Wooster had a good opportunity to tie the game. Sophomore defensive tackle Aaron Roberson (Southfield, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage and also caught the ball for an interception, giving the offense possession at the Denison 22-yard line with 5:16 to play in the third. The Scots were unable to take advantage.

Two plays into the Big Red's ensuing possession, they hit for a 42-yard pass play to the Wooster 20 and went in from there, and all of the sudden the visitors had a 24-10 lead.

The Scots' defense kept battling. Roberson was part of another takeaway early in the fourth, recovering a fumble that was forced by Patrick Johnson (Homewood, Ill. / Homewood-Flossmoor), but again, no points came of it.

Wooster did score late. A Kevin Komara (Wooster, Ohio / Wooster) fumble recovery led to a Gary Muntean (Poland, Ohio / Struthers)-to-Dan Gorzynski (Kendall Park, N.J. / South Brunswick) 17-yard touchdown pass, completing a quick six-play, 37-yard possession.

Points were hard to come by early, as the Scots' Trevor Bowden (Eatonton, Ga. / Gatewood Schools) drilled a career-long 44-yard field goal in the first quarter and Conor Dunn answered with a 19-yarder in the second for the lone scoring before McKinney's defensive touchdown.

Both defenses stood out throughout the contest. There were eight takeaways in all and only 530 yards of combined total offense.

In addition to the aforementioned takeaways by the Scot defense, Derrick Florence II (Jacksonville, Fla. / Paxon School) intercepted a pass that had been deflected by Keith Lemke (Loudonville, Ohio / Loudonville) and McKinney forced another fumble that ended up being recovered by Denison. Wooster had four sacks – one apiece by Bowers, Andru Brantley (South Euclid, Ohio / Lutheran East), Riley Markko (South Salem, Ohio / Paint Valley), and Roberson.

This and That: Senior center Nick Flannery (Dayton, Ohio / Chaminade-Julienne) is a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's 2015 Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award ... Trevor Bowden's (Eatonton, Ga. / Gatewood Schools) 44-yard field goal last week marked the longest by a Wooster kicker in 14 years (Richie McNally, 46 yards at Ohio Wesleyan University on Sept. 29, 2001) ... With 12 takeaways (8 fumble recoveries, 4 interceptions), the Scots are on pace to challenge the school record of 30, which has happened twice before (1976, 2000).