Opening Kickoff Return Touchdown Sets Tone in 46-21 Wooster Win

OBERLIN, Ohio – The College of Wooster football team ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown for the second time this season, and the Fighting Scots logged five sacks in Saturday's 46-21 win at Oberlin College.

Senior Brazos Gadler was the returner on Saturday's opening kickoff, running it back 85 yards. Gadler patiently worked the ball from the right side of the field to the left, made the last Oberlin (0-7, 0-5 NCAC) defender miss, then was off to the races down the left sideline. Previously, senior Carter Warstler ran back the opening kickoff of the season 90 yards against Wilmington College. Of note, Wooster is the seventh team in Div. III with two kickoff return touchdowns this season.

Wooster's (2-6, 1-5 NCAC) offense methodically marched down the field when it saw action for the first time on Saturday. The Scots took 7:42 off the clock on a 17-play touchdown drive that ended with a 1-yard rush by junior Jarvis Mims Jr. Senior Andrew Hammer caught an 18-yard pass on the inside on Wooster's first offensive snap, while the Scots moved the marker four times on the drive on third- or fourth-down rushing plays.

Gadler, who had 248 all-purpose yards in Saturday's win, gained 51 on a touchdown reception with 12:29 to go before halftime. Sophomore Michael Boyle's first of four touchdown passes put the Scots up 20-7. The duo connected on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 7:34 on the second-quarter clock, and that score upped Wooster's lead to 27-7.  Gadler's third receiving touchdown in the game came from six yards out in the third quarter.

The Scots' run of scoring touchdowns each time with the ball continued until halftime. Wooster's final drive ended with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Boyle to senior tight end Sebestyen Balassy. The Balassy touchdown enabled the Scots to take a 33-7 lead into the break.

Sacks were a theme of the second half for Wooster, yet those started piling up in the first quarter, when first-year Winston Dunn dropped Drew Nye for a 3-yard loss. Senior Neil Clayton knocked the ball from Nye's grasp for sack two of the day on the opening drive of the third quarter. First-year Donovon Jackson was the sacker on the next drive, dropping Nye for a 4-yard loss, while sophomore Isaac LaFay upped the sack counter to three for just the third quarter.

In the fourth, Balassy's 42-yard punt pinned Oberlin at its own 3-yard line. The Yeomen were right back at that spot after LaFay chased Nye down for a 13-yard sack on a third-and-8 play with about 13 minutes to play. Earlier, pressure by LaFay caused a hurried pass by Nye, who was also sent scrambling in the end zone by first-year Magnus Boben at the possession's onset.

Elsewhere, first-year Bryson Douglas scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 14-yard carry in the fourth quarter and classmate Amari Lee picked Nye off inside the red zone in the final four minutes of the first half.

Gadler's 11 receptions and 163 receiving yards marked new career-highs. His 11 receptions are tied for the seventh-most in program history and the top total since the 2021 season. Worth noting, Gadler logged his third 100-yard receiving game against Oberlin and ends his three-game run against the Yeomen with 382 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns on 22 catches.

Boyle played his best game yet, completing 16-of-23 passes for 248 yards and four touchdowns. He did not have a turnover and was not sacked. Mims Jr. was the leading rusher with 63 yards on 16 carries. Sophomore Wyatt Wilkie's eight tackles were the team-high. LaFay finished with four tackles, two of which were sacks.

Nye was 28-of-53 for 295 yards and three touchdowns. His go-to target was Colten Danel, who turned 10 receptions into 93 yards. Jordan Fishback caught two of Nye's three touchdown passes. Defensively, Hunter Green led all players with 12 tackles.

Wooster was faced with just nine third-down conversions in the game and converted on five of them.

Next, Wooster is at Hiram College (0-6, 0-4 NCAC) for a noon game on Saturday, November 2.