Holter's Third Quarter Sparks Scots to 21-10 Win at Denison

Austin Holter

The College of Wooster scored two touchdowns in the third quarter, turning a 10-7 halftime deficit into an 11-point lead, and made a couple of defensive stands during the fourth as the Fighting Scots spoiled Denison University's "Big Red Weekend" with a 21-10 North Coast Athletic Conference triumph Saturday night at Granville, Ohio.

With the victory, Wooster (3-0, 2-0 NCAC) takes the "Old Red Lantern" – the trophy annually awarded to the winner of this historic rivalry – for the eighth-straight time.

Trailing early in the second half, the Scots' Austin Holter (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe) changed the momentum, zig-zagging his way through the defense, first to the right side, then over to the left, and eventually diving to the pylon for a 67-yard touchdown run. That put Wooster back ahead 14-10 at the 10:32 mark of the third quarter.

The Scot offense also moved the ball on its next possession, only to be intercepted in the end zone.

A short drive and an 11-yard punt by Denison (1-2, 0-2 NCAC) ensued and Wooster took advantage, regaining the ball at the Big Red 44-yard line. Six plays later, the Scots were in the end zone again when Holter found tight end Cameron Daniels (Clarksburg, W. Va. / Byrd) for a two-yard touchdown pass on 1st-and-goal. Daniels' first career score followed a pass interference penalty by Denison on 3rd-and-goal, while the other key play came from running back Dajaun Bush (Palm Harbor, Fla. / Palm Harbor University) as he scampered for 28 yards.

> In the fourth quarter, the Big Red drove into the red zone twice, but Wooster turned them away each time. First, Bryan Albani (Warren, Ohio / Howland) knocked down a pass in the end zone on a 4th-and-7 play from the 14-yard line, and later, Brian Swan (East Canton, Ohio / East Canton) intercepted a pass at the one with 2:56 to go, sealing the win, after Denison had just made a first down at the 18-yard line.

On its very first offensive possession of the game, the Scots' offense scored, marching 85 yards over just seven plays. Four of those plays went for more than 10 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown rush by Dustin Sheppard (Johnstown, Ohio / Johnstown-Monroe). It marked the 30th career score for the senior – only the seventh in school history to accomplish that feat.

Denison cut into the 7-0 margin with a Kevin Schneider 34-yard field goal early in the second quarter. It appeared it would be a 7-3 game going into the half until the Big Red marched 78 yards in just 1:51, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mike Barnes to Jeff Cochran with :11 on the clock. That was the first touchdown Wooster's defense has given up this year.

Overall, the Scots gained more than 400 yards (407) to Denison's 322.

Wooster, led by Holter, displayed a balanced attack. The junior quarterback had his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, netting 106 on just 12 carries, and completed 13-of-27 passes for 195 yards. He had two long throws to Mike Francescangeli (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) and the junior wound up with a career-high 111 yards on four receptions.

For the Big Red, Barnes also was 50 percent passing (22-of-44) for 238 yards, but the Scot defense limited the speedy quarterback to negative eight yards rushing, thanks to three sacks. Barnes entered the game as the league leader in rushing (159.5 ypg).

Wooster linebacker Matt DeGrand (Stow, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary) led all players with a career-high 17-tackle outing.

Next Saturday, the Scots will be back home to face Earlham College (0-3, 0-0 NCAC) at 1 p.m.