Fighting Scots Hold Off Grove City 28-13

GROVE CITY, Pa. — The College of Wooster got off to a quick start, scoring three touchdowns during the first 25 minutes of play, but then had to hold off a pesky Grove City College squad, as the visiting Scots eventually secured a 28-13 win on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action.

One of the biggest plays of the game came midway through the fourth quarter, when faced with a 3rd-and-12 at its own 39-yard line and clinging to a 21-13 lead, Wooster quarterback Justin Schafer (Bethesda, Ohio / Union Local) found Shaun Swearingen (Hilliard, Ohio / Bishop Watterson) over the middle for a 20-yard gain. The next play also went 20 yards through the air, this time to Richie McNally (Westerville, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales), and then Tony Sutton (Akron, Ohio / Archbishop Hoban) took care of the final 21 yards on two rushes to give the Scots a two-score lead for the first time since midway through the third quarter.

Early on, it didn’t look like Wooster (2-0) would face such a challenge. The Scots scored on their initial two possessions. Sutton dove over the pile from one-yard out on a 4th down-and-goal play to cap a 14-play, 67-yard drive. On the ensuing possession, the Wooster offense took advantage of a Ryan Jayne (East Palestine, Ohio / East Palestine) interception — his second on the early season — at the Grove City 37-yard line. It only took four plays from there, ending on a 10-yard toss from Schafer to Tim Slovensky (Parma, Ohio / Parma Sr.) in the left corner of the end zone.

With just over five minutes remaining in the opening half, Wooster made it 21-0 on a defensive play, as Jamin Suber (Fairlawn, Ohio / Copley) burst through the offense and took advantage of a muffed handoff. The senior defensive lineman picked up the fumble and sprinted 30 yards for his first career touchdown.

The Wolverines (2-1) began to make things interesting towards the end of the second quarter, as they marched 69 yards in just five plays, keyed by a 42-yard reception from Bradford Clark to Bo Danton. Clark finished the scoring drive on the ensuing play with a five-yard run.

Grove City won the field position battle during the third quarter. The Wolverines took advantage midway through it, going 41 yards on eight plays, with Brandon McGlothlin finding his way through the line for a one-yard score. The Scots blocked the extra point attempt, which kept it at 21-13. It was their second block of the game, as they got their hands on a 31-yard field goal try in the second quarter.

Prior to Wooster putting the game away late in the fourth, the Wolverines were on the verge of a potential tying drive. They moved the ball into Scot territory, but were forced to turn it over on downs, when the Wooster defense stopped a fourth-and-one play at the 23.

Although the Grove City defense held Sutton in check most of the day, the two-time All-American still grinded out 162 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries.

The Wolverines had seven different players attempt rushes, combining for 196 yards on 49 attempts. Adam Wargo led the way with 77 net yards.

Schafer completed nine passes, hitting four different receivers with two apiece, for 94 yards, while two Grove City quarterbacks went 4-for-16 for 65 yards.

Overall, the Wolverines held a slight edge in total offense (261-248), but turned it over three times to the Scots’ one.

Next Saturday, Wooster returns home to face Case Western Reserve University (2-1) at 1 p.m.