Big Plays Hurt Scots in Saturday Loss to Big Red

WOOSTER, Ohio – Big plays were Saturday night's theme, as The College of Wooster football team struck first and grabbed a second-quarter lead on 40-plus-yard touchdowns, but a trio of 75-plus-yard scores enabled Denison University to pull away from the Fighting Scots 48-30 at John P. Papp Stadium.

Senior Brazos Gadler logged his best game of the season, turning eight receptions into 125 yards and two touchdowns. He was the target on Wooster's (1-5, 0-4 North Coast Athletic Conference) opening drive, catching 12- and 13-yard passes on the first two offensive plays. Two plays later, sophomore Jace Austin broke free from Denison (4-2, 4-0 NCAC) for a 50-yard touchdown run.

Later, it was 13-10 Wooster just seven seconds into the second quarter. Gadler had a step on his Big Red defender, enabling sophomore Michael Boyle to find Wooster's No. 1 wideout for a 42-yard score. Senior Sebestyen Balassy followed with the extra point.

Balassy's foot pulled Wooster within 17-16 at the second quarter's 5:28 mark. The senior booted a 29-yard field goal through the uprights. The field goal drive started at Wooster's 25-yard line and Gadler quickly moved the ball just shy of midfield with a 19-yard catch-and-run. Junior Shakir Perkins covered 14 more yards with a rush, and the combination of Austin and Perkins gradually worked the ball into field goal range.

Denison answered the field goal with a 94-yard kickoff return by the speedy Jaylin Epps. Tommy Asleson caught an 86-yard touchdown pass in the first minute of the third quarter and quarterback Tyler Green broke free for a 77-yard scramble touchdown on the Big Red's next possession. The explosive touchdowns put Denison up 38-16 following Daniel Cunningham's fifth extra point of the night.

Green fumbled a snap on the first play of the fourth quarter. Wooster senior defensive end Jacob Dugas dove on the ball for the recovery, setting the Scots up at the Big Red's 44-yard line. On the ensuing drive, Balassy sprung free in the end zone just in time for Boyle to find the tight end for the 3-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-3 snap with 10:11 on the clock.

Later, Gadler was open for a 22-yard touchdown pass from Boyle in the game's final two minutes. Perkins converted a third-and-2 conversion with a 16-yard run up the middle. A Denison roughing the passer penalty moved the chains when Wooster was faced with a third-and-8 snap from midfield. Next, Balassy kept the drive alive, catching a 14-yard pass on a fourth-and-11 play. In fact, Wooster converted 4-of-5 fourth-down plays on the day, with Gadler's 22-yard touchdown coming on fourth down.

Boyle completed 18-of-35 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start. Wooster rushed for 188 yards, with 96 coming from Austin and 87 from Perkins. Senior defensive back Vell Robinson and junior linebacker Wyatt Harris had eight tackles each. Junior Louie Lindsay followed with seven.

Denison rushed for 288 yards, 138 of which came from standout running back Trey Fabrocini. Nicholas Saccu rushed for 76 yards on eight carries, while Green ended the night with 69 yards on the ground and 236 through the air. He completed 12-of-21 passes with three touchdowns. Asleson went for 191 yards on six catches.

Nick Pellicciotta's 13 tackles led Denison. Casper Rublowsky was next with seven.

Denison had 524 yards of total offense to Wooster's 425. Wooster held the Big Red to 4-of-10 on third down.

Next, Wooster hosts Ohio Wesleyan University (2-4, 1-3 NCAC) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 19 as part of Homecoming for Alumni and Families Weekend.