GRANVILLE, Ohio – The College of Wooster looked great early with two touchdowns and 175 yards of offense on its first three possessions, plus a defensive takeaway, but the hot start was not sustained, with Denison University pulling away from the Fighting Scots 52-28 on Saturday afternoon at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.
Senior Troy Baughman, who recently shifted from running back to slot receiver, danced his way through Denison's (5-2, 5-1 North Coast Athletic Conference) defense en route to a 19-yard touchdown reception that capped Wooster's (4-3, 3-3 NCAC) opening drive. Seniors Mateo Renteria and Cole Hissong connected on back-to-back 13-yard chain-movers at the drive's onset. Two drives later, Renteria went over the top to sophomore Carter Warstler on the first play, and the Scots' electric receiver hauled in a 58-yard touchdown grab. Junior Lake Barrett's extra point made it a 14-0 game with inside a minute left in the first quarter.
Prior to Warstler's third touchdown reception of at least 50 yards this season, first-year David Lewis pried the pigskin free from Denison's Josh Aiello, when matched up with the Big Red's receiver in one-on-one coverage. Wooster recovered the ball at its 42-yard line.
Denison responded to the fumble with touchdowns on seven of its next nine drives, starting with Andrew Blanchard's 41-yard burst at the 12:16 mark of the second quarter. Fourth-down stops ultimately proved to be Wooster's Achilles heel, with Denison converting one on each of its first two touchdown drives. Later, Drew Dawkins' 38-yard touchdown pass to Trey Fabrocini resulted in the Big Red taking a 21-14 lead into halftime.
Sophomore PT Fischer nearly broke free for a kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter, but Denison was able to track the returner down after a 55-yard run back. Wooster capitalized on the short field, plus first-year Bryant Douglas II's 27-yard fourth-down reception, with junior Andrew Yanssens scoring from three yards out at the 9:48 mark. Barrett's ensuing extra point pulled Wooster within 28-21.
Wooster did not score again until the game's final minute. Hissong caught an 18-yard pass from Renteria to cap an eight-play, 69-yard drive. First-year Andrew Hammer moved the ball down to the 33-yard line with a 23-yard fourth-down reception, and a roughing the passer penalty moved the Scots inside the red zone.
Renteria completed 20-of-37 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns. With the touchdowns, Renteria upped his career total to 48, the fourth-most in program history, and he has now matched his single-season high at 17. Hissong caught six passes for 62 yards and the score, while Warstler had top honors in yards at 70, while averaging 35.5 yards per catch. Yanssens logged 59 rushing yards on 18 carries.
Senior Angelo Petracci and junior Langston Williams paced the defense with seven tackles apiece. The Scots did not have a sack on the day.
Dawkins went 17-of-29 for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and he added 56 yards on the ground. Blanchard averaged 8.1 yards per carry, with the yardage total coming out to 121 on 15 touches. He scored two touchdowns in the game. Aiello went for 101 yards on five catches, one of which resulted in a touchdown.
Jeff Moore's 10 tackles marked the game-high. He had a forced fumble, tackle for loss, and pass breakup. Cory Swartzmiller played fine defense all afternoon with three of Denison's 10 pass breakups.
Denison outgained Wooster 538-364, the Big Red had 230 yards rushing, and the hosts went 8-for-13 on third-down conversions compared to Wooster's 3-for-14.
Next, Wooster has its first home game in over a month, as the Scots are set to host Hiram College (1-7, 0-6 NCAC) at noon on Saturday, October 30.