The College of Wooster football team took to the gridiron for a competition for the first time since November 16, 2019, and while the Fighting Scots came out on the short end of Saturday afternoon's 37-3 exhibition contest against DePauw University, there were certainly plenty of positives to take away, namely valuable experience the team can put toward a hopeful traditional season come fall.

Freshman PT Fischer knocked a 37-yard field goal through the uprights with 2:12 remaining for Wooster's lone points of the afternoon, and that capped a 14-play, 54-yard drive. Fellow rookie Seth Jutz kept the drive alive with his crafty footwork and key chain-moving passes. The signal-caller hit junior Harvey Briscoe on a 7-yard strike that moved the pigskin to Wooster's 37, and later, he hit senior Keetrone Singleton on chain-moving 15- and 8-yard connections. Josh Pond, yet another freshman, converted on a third-and-1 play with a 3-yard tote up the middle. The drive ultimately stalled at DePauw's 20-yard line, prior to Fischer thwarting the shutout bid.

Junior Angelo Petracci celebrates after stopping Will Schmidt in the backfield on a third-and-3 play in the first quarter. Photo by Matt Dilyard.

DePauw, which scored touchdowns on its first two possessions, looked to strike again late in the first quarter, only junior Angelo Petracci had other plans. The neuroscience major snuffed out a Will Schmidt tote on third-and-3, spilling the Tigers' junior behind the line. Junior Kellen Calhoun's pressure forced Chase Andries to throw the ball away on third-and-10 on DePauw's next drive, while in the third quarter, freshman Kobe Nadu did likewise on a third-and-8 snap. Later in the third, DePauw's Aidan Baker looked to pick up the needed three yards for a first down on the ground, but junior Joseph Zagales and freshman Domenic DeMuth kept him short of the marker.

Andries accounted for three of DePauw's five touchdowns on the day. He had a 7-yard keeper in the first quarter, and later fired 5- and 21-yard touchdowns strikes to Cam Hayes. Schmidt added a 1-yard touchdown rush and Gabe Quigley scampered in from 16 yards out in the third. Jack Drake booted a 19-yard field goal for the Tigers' lone fourth-quarter score.

Wooster junior Mateo Renteria started and completed 11-of-27 passes for 86 yards, junior Troy Baughman toted the ball 11 times for 30 stripes, and sophomore EJ Humphries turned a team-leading five receptions into 28 yards. Offensively, Wooster tallied 210 yards on the day.

Sophomore Langston Williams' 10 tackles marked the game-high, while junior transfer Chris Savaglio added eight. Nadu and senior Eric Kraus logged six stops apiece.

Andries completed 17-of-26 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Schmidt finished with 97 yards on the ground, while Josh Major had five receptions for 70 yards. DePauw posted 449 yards of total offense.

Nathan Seifer's seven tackles led DePauw, while Ben Higgins and Dylan Hyatt had interceptions.

Wooster has one more exhibition contest scheduled this spring. That's set for 5 p.m. on Friday, April 2 against Ohio Wesleyan University.