Dan Gorzynski

After playing nationally-ranked opponents two of the last three games, and three times overall this season, The College of Wooster is hoping to get back on the winning track when it visits North Coast Athletic Conference opponent Kenyon College (2-5, 2-4 NCAC) Saturday, Oct. 31. Both teams are coming off losses to current No. 9 Wabash College, as Wooster became just the third to score on the Little Giants this year in a 55-7 setback last Saturday and Kenyon, which had a bye last week, was shutout by them 35-0 on Oct. 17. Opening kickoff on Halloween at 1,750-seat McBride Field is scheduled 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, Kenyon will be providing a live video stream at portal.stretchinternet.com/kenyon/.

All-Time Series: Wooster has won over two-thirds of the games in its long-running series with Kenyon, holding a 49-23-3 advantage (.673). Since the two institutions helped form the NCAC in 1984, the Scots are ahead 17-10 (.630), thanks to victories in 14 of the last 16 meetings. One of the more notable contests occurred in 2005, when Kenyon upended Wooster to halt the Scots' 14-game regular season winning streak – the sixth-longest streak in NCAA Div. III at the time.

Last Week: Wooster played No. 9 Wabash evenly throughout the first half, then the visitors struck for two quick touchdowns during the final 1:22 to turn a 10-7 game into 24-7 and they eventually left John P. Papp Stadium with a 55-7 triumph in NCAC play.

In spite of the final lopsided score, the Scots took some positives away. Their 275 yards of total offense were the second-most Wabash's vaunted defense has allowed this season, and they became just the third team to score a touchdown on the Little Giants.

Wooster nearly became the first team to score on Wabash during the first quarter this year, as it successfully moved the ball. On the game's second play from scrimmage, freshman Connor Allan (East Aurora, N.Y. / East Aurora), making his first career start at running back, took a short pass and burst through the line for 35 yards. Following another first down, though, the Scots fumbled it away on a 2nd-and-8 play at the Little Giants' 30-yard line.

Wabash used a heavy dose of runs during a 12-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, and then Wooster appeared that it might answer back. The Scots pushed their way into the red zone, gaining three first downs and 54 yards, but were turned away on a 4th-and-4 play from the 14.

Wooster again threatened during the early stages of the second quarter, as it got to the Wabash 30. From there, a 47-yard field goal had the distance, but sailed just wide to the right.

The Little Giants responded with a field goal of their own to make it 10-0.

Following a punt, the Scots' defense made a key play. Marcus Bowers (Roseville, Mich. / Fraser) stripped a Wabash running back, with Aaron Roberson (Southfield, Mich. / Detroit Country Day) pouncing on the fumble to give the offense possession at the Wabash 46. Ten plays later, David Smith (Upper Arlington, Ohio / Upper Arlington) connected with Dan Gorzynski (Kendall Park, N.J. / South Brunswick) in the right flat for a seven-yard touchdown, and it was 10-7 with 4:09 to play in the half.

Wooster's defense followed with a three-and-out, but a 55-yard net punt pinned the Scots back at their own 11-yard line with 2:11 on the clock.

What looked to be a close contest heading into halftime suddenly turned, as Wabash forced Wooster into a three-and-out and a 25-yard net punt resulted in a short field. The Little Giants went 30 yards in three plays to make it 17-7 at the 1:22 mark, and they weren't done. On the ensuing series, the Scots gained a quick first down, then tossed three incompletions, followed by a shanked punt, and Wabash scored on a broken play that resulted in a 38-yard touchdown pass to go into halftime up 24-7.

The Little Giants began the third quarter with possession and mounted a 70-yard scoring drive, and things continued to snowball on the Scots as four second-half interceptions – two of which were returned for touchdowns – resulted in the large margin of victory.

Wooster's 275 yards included 157 through the air from Smith as he completed 18-of-34 passes, despite being frequently under duress. Gorzynski and Adam Coppock (Columbiana, Ohio / Crestview) each had five receptions for 39 and 38 yards, respectively, while Allan contributed 52 yards receiving and 37 rushing – team highs in both categories.

This and That: The Fighting Scots have played the 30th-toughest schedule to date out of 243 NCAA Div. III teams, based on opponents' winning percentage ... Complicating matters for Wooster has been a series of injuries this year, as it has 37 games lost to injury (and counting), defined as games missed by projected starters ... Senior defensive end Stephen McKinney (Lampasas, Texas / Lampasas) is climbing the school's career sacks' list, as he now has 14.5, tied for the 10th-most. With 4.0 more, McKinney would move into the top-five.