Scots Drop Road Contest at No. 18/21 DePauw

GREENCASTLE, Indiana – The College of Wooster football team was unable to slow newly nationally-ranked DePauw University, falling 51-14 on Saturday afternoon at Blackstock Stadium.

Junior defensive back Tate Journell was Wooster's (1-2, 0-1 North Coast Athletic Conference) bright spot early, logging a textbook open-field tackle to hold Will Kaster to just a 4-yard gain on an early first-quarter slant pass. DePauw (3-0, 1-0 NCAC, No. 18 American Football Coaches Association Top-25 Poll/No. 21 D3football.com Top-25 Poll) immediately tested Journell again, and Wooster's top corner broke up a pass intended for Kaster, which led to a DePauw punt.

Carson Johnson returned Wooster's punt 34 yards, setting DePauw up just 17 yards shy of the end zone. Journell was targeted again and momentarily slowed DePauw's progress with his second breakup of the opening two possessions. However, Caden Whitehead rushed through Wooster's defense, eventually scoring from 2 yards out for the game's opening score at the first quarter's 8:33 mark. The Tigers followed up the opening scoring drive with five more consecutive point-producing drives, which opened a 37-0 lead when Frankie Ricciardi hauled in a 74-yard touchdown pass with 13:57 remaining in the third quarter.

Elsewhere, sophomore defensive back Will Harris II denied DePauw a touchdown pass with an end-zone breakup on the first play he was in on. Later, junior linebacker Tyler Miller's touchdown-saving tackle foiled DePauw's look to get into the end zone on a second-quarter jet sweep.

Wooster broke through in the scoring column with 5:58 to go in the third quarter. Junior quarterback Chanden Lee found senior wide receiver Andrew Hammer for 18 yards on a third-and-10 snap from Wooster's 16-yard line. That was followed up by a 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown to junior wide receiver Jordan Lewis.

Wooster was within 37-14 after Gadler's intense focus in the end zone with 12:53 remaining in the game. Wooster was faced with fourth-and-7 from DePauw's 21-yard line and Lee took a shot for the score. Gadler initially bobbled the catch and then secured it while falling to the ground. Senior Sebestyen Balassy followed with the extra point.

Earlier, Wooster found its footing offensively, but could not come away with points. Gadler's toe tap converted a third-and-16 play with about 9:50 remaining before halftime. A DePauw pass interference penalty moved Wooster's drive to the Tigers' side of the field. Lee immediately took a shot, completing a 40-yard pass to Gadler to move the Scots inside the 10-yard line. Unfortunately, Wooster missed the field goal try.

Junior defensive back Louie Lindsay broke up DePauw's run of touchdown drives by undercutting an open DePauw receiver in the end zone with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter. That caused the ball to jar free. Miller broke up the fourth-down pass, resulting in the Tigers turning the ball over on downs.

Lee completed 12-of-37 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Gadler logged a strong game, turning five receptions into 130 yards. Junior Shakir Perkins emerged as the leading rusher with 34 yards on six carries.

Sophomore Wyatt Wilkie led the defense with eight tackles. Wooster was credited with six pass breakups on the day, with two each coming from Harris II and Journell.

Nathan McCahill went for nearly 400 yards through the air by completing 25-of-34 passes. Five of the completions were touchdowns. Jaylon Smith was the leading receiver with nine catches for 130 yards, including a 66-yard one. Whitehead rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Jake Comer and Luke Marsh had seven tackles each for DePauw. Christian Troupe was the top defensive back, breaking up four passes and logging an interception.

DePauw had 623 yards of offense to Wooster's 284. The Tigers were 7-of-12 on third down to a 4-of-13 mark for Wooster.

Next, Wooster is at Kenyon College (1-2, 0-1 NCAC) for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday, September 28.