Cameron Daniels

Wittenberg University scored touchdowns on a quick drive right before halftime and on the first series of the third quarter, turning what looked like was going to be a 13-7 game at the half into a 27-7 cushion, and then held off a College of Wooster rally, ultimately prevailing 42-21 Saturday at Springfield, Ohio, in the archrivals' tilt that allowed the Tigers to finish alone in second in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Wooster (4-6, 3-3 NCAC), despite an uncharacteristic season, tied for fourth-place in the conference, extending its streak of fifth-place or better finishes to 17 years.

Trailing by six and with possession 2:03 before the halftime break, the Fighting Scots went three-and-out, followed by a 24-yard punt return that gave Wittenberg (8-2, 5-1 NCAC) the ball back around midfield at the 1:12 mark. Five-straight completions by Ben Zoeller, capped by a six-yarder to Josh McKee into the right corner of the end zone with :09 on the clock put the Tigers ahead 20-7.

Wittenberg carried that momentum over into the second half, putting together a 14-play, 67-yard touchdown drive that featured 3rd-and-15 and 4th-and-8 conversions. Reed Florence hit Michael Cooper on a three-yard pass for the score.

Once Wooster got its hands on the ball, it only took one play to answer. Robert Flagg sprinted beyond the Tigers' secondary and Brett Frongillo found him for a 71-yard touchdown pass, marking the Scots' longest play of the season, and they were right back within two scores at 27-14 midway through the third.

The two teams would then exchange punts, followed by the Wittenberg offense generating a big play, as Zoeller and McKee connected for a 68-yard touchdown.

Wooster would respond quickly again, covering 70 yards in just seven plays on the ensuing possession. It included a Frongillo 14-yard run, passes of 13 and 21 yards to Jordan McIntyre and Cameron Daniels, respectively, and Flagg finished the drive with a 16-yard touchdown rush to pull within 34-21.

The offensive shootout continued, though, with the Tigers scoring on the next series, a six-play, 57-yarder that Florence capped with a three-yard quarterback keeper. That would complete the scoring.

Early on, the Scots dug themselves a 13-0 hole due to some uncharacteristic punting problems. First, a 17-yard punt into the wind led to a short field for the Wittenberg offense and the Tigers took advantage, scoring three plays later on a Florence six-yard run.

It remained 7-0 until early in the second quarter when Wittenberg blocked a punt and Hunter Hendershot returned it 10 yards for a touchdown.

Wooster would get right back in it, as a 39-yard rush by Frongillo keyed a seven-play, 72-yard series. Two plays after the long Frongillo run, Daniels was on the receiving end of a 12-yard touchdown.

Overall, the teams combined for 831 yards of offense, 319 for the Scots and 512 for the Tigers.

Frongillo completed 12-of-22 passes for 190 yards and also was Wooster's leading rusher with 57 yards. Daniels led the receiving corps with four catches for 51 yards.

Zoeller had a 300-yard passing day with 337 coming on 20-of-32 completions. McKee was his favorite target with 10 receptions for 199 yards.