Taylor Bowen

After a challenging schedule the first half of the 2015 season, in which four of the five teams The College of Wooster played currently have a combined record of 17-7, the Fighting Scots hope to begin the second half on a positive note as they welcome North Coast Athletic Conference foe Oberlin College (2-4, 2-3 NCAC) to John P. Papp Stadium this Saturday, Oct. 17. Wooster had an extra week to prepare and rest up from a series of injuries, while Oberlin and its high-scoring offense – the Yeomen have averaged 36.0 points over their last three contests – are coming off a 55-18 loss to No. 8 Wabash College. This will mark the Scots' second night game this fall, with opening kickoff at Papp Stadium scheduled for 7 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, 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 67-22-2 advantage. Since 1986, Wooster has emerged victorious in 24 of 25, including a 16-game win streak (1986-2002). On Oct. 11, 2003, the Yeomen upset a then-No. 13 ranked Wooster team 14-7.

Last Game: Wooster's defense held No. 24 Wittenberg University to season lows in first downs (14) and total offense (243 yards), and the Scots were within 10-0 entering the fourth quarter, but the Tigers' defense was equally assertive as it completed a 24-0 shutout in the NCAC rivals' affair at Springfield, Ohio.

Seven of Wittenberg's first 11 possessions began either at midfield or inside Wooster territory, and the Scots turned the home team away time and time again. The only points they allowed through three quarters were a 35-yard field goal when the Tigers had a short field to work with following an interception on the game's fourth play and a four-yard touchdown run, which ironically capped a drive that started in Wittenberg territory – 16 plays and 65 yards.

Otherwise, Wooster forced the Tigers into three punts, two lengthy missed field goals, and a turnover on downs on the other six possessions that began at midfield or inside Scot territory.

Offensively, Wooster had a few opportunities to get on the scoreboard during the opening half. A 30-yard rush by Antonio Bailey (Duluth, Ga. / Meadowcreek) helped the Scots advance to the Wittenberg 34 late in the first quarter, but they were turned away there on a 4th-and-6 play, and similarly, a 20-yard Bailey burst eventually led to a 4th-and-2 at the 31 that was also denied early in the second. With just under 2:00 before halftime, defensive tackle Aaron Roberson (Southfield, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) intercepted a Wittenberg pass, however, Wooster settled for a 49-yard field goal attempt.

Late in the third quarter, the Tigers finally took advantage of their repeated good field position. On a drive that began at the Scot 35, they gained a couple of first downs, and on 3rd-and-goal from the five, connected for a touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Wittenberg tacked on a 10-yard touchdown run later in the fourth, while Wooster's offense was turned away twice that quarter on 4th-down plays from the Tiger 21- and 6-yard lines.

The Scots played a pair of quarterbacks – Tyson Vogel (Ashland, Ohio / Ashland), who was making his first career start at the position, and Gary Muntean (Poland, Ohio / Struthers). They combined to go 14-of-36 for 115 yards, while Bailey's two long runs resulted in a 51-yard day on eight carries.

Defensively, Cornelius Gyamfi (Atlanta, Ga. / Chamblee), a freshman and first-time starter, and Patrick Johnson (Homewood, Ill. / Homewood-Flossmoor) shared tackle honors with 10 apiece, while Kevin Komara (Wooster, Ohio / Wooster) had 1.5 sacks plus a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and seven stops.

This and That: If Tyson Vogel (Ashland, Ohio / Ashland) returns to the wide receiver position, he may finish with one of the best seasons in school history as he's on pace for 58 receptions, which would mark the fourth-most at Wooster ... Senior defensive end Stephen McKinney (Lampasas, Texas / Lampasas) is 2.5 sacks away from cracking the Scots' top-10 list for a career in that category. He currently has 12.0 ... Freshman Russell Boston (Renton, Wash. / Liberty) is currently leading the NCAC in kickoff return average with 23.7 yards on 12 attempts ... Freshman Marcus Bowers (Roseville, Mich. / Fraser) is expected to make his first career start this week, having been moved to the linebacker position ... For the Wittenberg game, seniors Taylor Bowen (Rydal, Ga. / Cartersville) and Matt Margida (Hudson, Ohio / Hudson) were moved into the starting lineup at left tackle and left guard, respectively. For Bowen, who bounced back from a knee injury that caused him to miss all of 2014, it marked his first career start, and it was Margida's third career start on the offensive line.