Fighting Scots Put On Show for Homecoming Game, Overhwhelm Wash. U. 38-13

In the third quarter, Robert Flagg sprints up field on his way to a 47-yard touchdown.

WOOSTER, Ohio – Austin Holter (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) passed for a career-high 327 yards, which also marked the fourth-most in team history, and as a whole, The College of Wooster was clicking on all cylinders as it celebrated Homecoming by thumping Washington University-St. Louis 38-13 Saturday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.

The Fighting Scots (5-1) set the tone with a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown drive on the game's first possession. On the very first play, Holter threw down field, hitting Zack Gust (Bannock, Ohio / Union Local) for a 33-yard gain. Shortly after converting a 4th-and-1 play, Holter threw a swing pass to the right to Robert Flagg (Oldsmar, Fla. / Dunedin), who took it 15 yards for the score.

Washington (3-3) would tie it 7-7 later in the first, taking advantage of a Wooster interception. Only needing 28 yards, the Bears took seven plays, capped by a Buck Smith-to-Tom Gulyas 11-yard pass on a crossing route.

Following an exchange of punts, the Scots' offense put together another quick score, this time going 59 yards in six plays. The majority of the drive consisted of Mike Francescangeli (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) receptions, as he turned three into 42 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown.

Late in the second quarter, Wooster was starting to move the ball again when a Holter pass went in-and-out of the hands of a Scot receiver, and Drew Makar was there to make the interception, returning it for a 50-yard touchdown. Wooster was able to maintain the lead (14-13), though, by blocking the ensuing extra point.

After the kickoff, there was just :54 left in the half, but with three timeouts, the Scots elected to go for some more points. That decision paid off in the form of an eight-play, 72-yard, 50-second touchdown drive. All five plays that gained yards went for 10 or more, ending on a Holter 12-yard pass to Jordan Ferns (Canfield, Ohio / Canfield) in the left corner of the end zone.

Leading 21-13 at the half, Wooster would continue to dominate play in the second. The defense forced a Washington punt, and then on the Scots' third offensive play of the third quarter, Holter found Flagg down the middle and the speedy freshman sprinted past the secondary for a 47-yard touchdown.

Wooster missed one opportunity to make it a three-score game, missing a field goal in the third quarter, but Dan Grangaard (Newark, Ohio / Newark) would knock through a 23-yarder early in the fourth to make it a 31-13 margin. That closed the Scots' longest drive of the day, as they had been pinned back at their own six-yard line before marching 86 yards in 11 plays.

Wooster's defense would put the finishing touches on the win, first making a stand on 4th-and-1 on the ensuing drive and then Steve Custenborder (Rocky River, Ohio / Rocky River) picking off a pass and returning it 36 yards for another score. It marked the sophomore linebacker's first career touchdown.

The Scots finished with nearly 500 yards of total offense, gaining a season-high 489. Holter accounted for 393 yards himself, also ranking as the fourth-highest in school history in that category, as he had a team-high 66 rushing to go with the 327 passing. He completed 22-of-35 passes, with Francescangel being on the receiving end of a career-high eight for 110 yards.

The Bears managed just 11 first downs, compared to 27 for Wooster, and 237 total yards. Smith was 17-of-29 through the air for 128 yards and Gulyas hauled in six of those for 62 stripes. Matt Glenn was Washington's top rusher at 43 yards on 12 carries.

The Scots return to North Coast Athletic Conference play next Saturday when they visit nationally-ranked Wabash College (6-0, 4-0 NCAC) at 1 p.m.