Jordan McIntyre

The College of Wooster stormed back from a 30-7 deficit midway through the fourth quarter and had an opportunity to send the game into overtime, but the rally fell just short as Denison University retained the "Old Red Lantern" by a 30-22 score in the North Coast Athletic Conference foes' trophy game Saturday afternoon in Granville, Ohio.

Trailing by 23 with 7:28 remaining, Wooster (1-3, 0-2 NCAC) raced down the field, as Richard Barnes completed 5-of-7 passes for 65 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown to Jordan McIntyre, on the nine-play, 76-yard drive. The Fighting Scots also scored the two-point conversion, a pass to Zack Weidrick, which made it a two-possession game at 30-15 with 4:48 left.

Denison (2-2, 2-1 NCAC) recovered the ensuing on-sides kick and burned some of the clock down as Wooster forced a three-and-out.

After a touchback on the Big Red's punt, the Scots took over at the 20-yard line at the 2:18 mark. This time, Brett Frongillo was at the controls of the offense and he helped them cover the 80 yards in just six plays, connecting on four passes with the last one being a 48-yarder to Adam Coppock. It marked the freshman's first collegiate touchdown, and following an extra point, it was a one-possession game (30-22).

Possession went to the Big Red with 1:16 remaining after an on-side kick went out-of-bounds. A three-and-out by the defense, interspersed with all three of its timeouts, allowed Wooster to force Denison into another punt that went out-of-bounds just inside the 20.

Starting with just :49 left, Frongillo completed a 26-yard pass to Weidrick to get the ball close to midfield, then converted a 4th-and-10 on a defensive pass interference penalty, setting up the final play at the Denison 48. The Scots were unable to attempt a Hail Mary, though, as Frongillo was sacked.

Wooster had led 7-3 at halftime, its touchdown on a six-play, 80-yard drive midway through the second quarter. The Scots were aided by facemask and roughing-the-passer penalties, the latter setting them up inside the red zone. Three plays later, on 2nd-and-goal from the three, Barnes took it himself for his first rushing touchdown this year.

The difference in the game was the Big Red's offense coming together to score touchdowns on four consecutive drives to start the second half, the first assisted by a long punt return, the second by a Wooster fumble, and the fourth by a blocked punt.

The Scots outgained their hosts by a 367-348 margin and each team finished with 18 first downs. Denison owned a commanding advantage in time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 40 minutes (38:18).

Individually, Barnes was 16-of-28 through the air for 185 yards and Frongillo 5-of-11 for 106 during his two drives. McIntyre served as Wooster's leading rusher and receiver with 53 yards on the ground on just two carries and 75 receiving yards on six catches.

The Big Red's Max Paulus put up similar numbers as Barnes, completing 15-of-25 for 192 yards, and Braden Layer was on the receiving end of five of those for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Sam Fioroni rushed the ball 36 times for 127 yards and one score.

Also of note, Rob Holtz of the Scots continued his standout season with 2.0 sacks, raising his total to 7.0 in four games, and Lenard Rivers intercepted his second pass of the year.

Wooster has another rivalry game next Saturday, as the "Baird Brothers Trophy" will be up for grabs at Case Western Reserve University (2-3), with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.