Mick Appel

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The College of Wooster football team (4-3, 3-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) has its final home game of the year on Saturday afternoon, when the Fighting Scots play host to tri-NCAC-leading Ohio Wesleyan University (6-1, 5-1 NCAC). Kickoff from the 4,500-seat John P. Papp Stadium is set for 1 p.m. Wooster can secure at least a .500 finish for the third straight season with a win, and the Scots are coming off one of their strongest statistical games in recent memory. Ohio Wesleyan most recently dispatched Hiram College 45-18, and the Battling Bishops have won their last two games after falling 31-13 at Wabash College on October 5.

On The Air: MCTV will carry this week's contest online at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/wooster. MCTV customers living in Wayne and Stark Counties can catch the first replay at 4:30 p.m. on Ch. 22 and 8 p.m. on Ch. 621 on Saturday. WKVX 960 AM will carry this week's contest live and online at https://wqkt.com.

All-Time Series: Ohio Wesleyan now leads the all-time series 32-31-0, and the Battling Bishops have won four of the last five meetings, including last year's 9-7 contest at Selby Stadium. The series dates back to 1901, and its the sixth-oldest series in program history. The 1901 game was won by Ohio Wesleyan 28-0 in what marked Wooster's first game since 1890. Wooster didn't play any games from 1891-1900 due to a campus ban on intercollegiate athletics. The Scots have won five of the last six contests at John P. Papp Stadium, including in 2017 when Wooster cruised to a 38-20 victory.

Last Meeting: Wooster didn't allow a touchdown for the first time since 2011, but a Gabe Philhower 27-yard field goal with :18 remaining was the difference, as Ohio Wesleyan squeaked out a 9-7 victory on September 15, 2018. Ohio Wesleyan took over with 4:46 remaining on its own 16-yard line and strung together the game-winning 14-play, 74-yard drive. 

While Philhower's golden foot was the difference in the scoring column, Wooster's dominance when it came to pass rushing emerged as one of the biggest factors in the game. Wooster's nine sacks were one shy of matching the single-game program record, and the Scots held the Bishops to negative two yards rushing. Alumnus Marcus Bowers, then-junior D'Andre Brown (Atlanta, Ga./Benjamin E. Mays) and then-freshman Kellen Calhoun (Tipp City, Ohio/Bethel) had two sacks each with Bowers and Brown's going for a combined negative 35 yards.

Offense Notes: Wooster's offense was nearly flawless in Saturday's win at Kenyon. The Scots tallied 580 yards of total offense, and that's the most since Wooster had 584 at Earlham College on November 3, 2007. Senior Nick Strausbaugh (Fredericksburg, Ohio/Waynedale) became Wooster's all-time leader in receiving yards in the second quarter, and he now has 2,872 for his career. The local product is a touchdown shy of matching Brandon Good's (1995-98) career haul of 30. Sophomore Troy Baughman (McKinney, Texas/Frisco Independence) scored on a 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and that marked Wooster's longest rush since alumnus Antonio Bailey scored from 80 yards out versus Kenyon on October 29, 2016. Sophomore Cole Hissong (Shreve, Ohio/Triway) now leads the team with five touchdown receptions after catching two on Saturday.

Defense Notes: Wooster held Kenyon to 149 yards of offense, and that's the fewest by a Scots' opponent since Wittenberg University mustered up 131 in the 2008 season finale. The Lords had two yards in the first quarter on Saturday and didn't get a first down until midway through the second period. Junior Beau Greenwood (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) logged his team-leading third interception at Kenyon, and Wooster's now had an interception on the opposition's opening drive in four of the last five games. Junior Kobe Matesic (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) became the fourth Scot to log at least three sacks on the year in Saturday's game. Kenyon was 0-for-2 on fourth down Saturday, and Wooster's opponents are now a collective 2-for-16 on the year. Wooster's fourth down defense ranks fourth nationally, and it's the top mark in the NCAC.

Special Teams Notes: Freshman Lake Barrett (Columbia, S.C./Hammond School) made three field goals at Kenyon, and it marked the 12th time in program history a Scot's made at least three field goals. Barrett's up to nine field goals on the year, one shy of the single-season school record, which is currently held by Ben Arnold (1997), Richie McNally (2004), and Russ Palm (2009). Sophomore Damien Sausville (Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) was the kickoff coverage standout last week with four tackles. 

This and That: Prior to Saturday's game, Wooster will recognize its 15 seniors. This year's senior class consists of defensive end Robert Alvarez (Fort Washington, Md./Riverdale Baptist School), left tackle Mick Appel (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee), defensive back Nick Barto-Brown (Pittsburgh, Pa./Vincentian Academy), D'Andre Brown (Atlanta, Ga./Benjamin E. Mays), left guard Adam Clark (Stoneboro, Pa./Greenville), student assistant/linebacker Jake Cohen (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington), defensive lineman Nick Godsey (Joppa, Md./Joppatowne), tight end Jacob Lewis (Silver Creek, N.Y./Silver Creek Central), quarterback Grady McHugh (Coatesville, Ind./South Putnam), running back Kamal Morgan (Randallstown, Md./Calvert Hall College), defensive end K.C. Okoronkwo (Alexandria, Va./Western Alamance (N.C.)) right guard Justin Robinson (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee), defensive back Christian Santos (Yeadon, Pa./Penn Wood Senior), defensive lineman Jake Stewart (South Park, Pa./South Park), and Nick Strausbaugh (Fredericksburg, Ohio/Waynedale). Wooster's senior class has 19 wins, three all-region, and eight all-conference honors.