Chris Aukerman delivers a hit on Wabash quarterback Chase Belton.

WOOSTER, Ohio – Wabash College's Kody LeMond tied a North Coast Athletic Conference record with four touchdown receptions, all of them coming after The College of Wooster had taken a 14-10 lead late in the second quarter, and the nationally-ranked Little Giants (No. 18 D3football.com, No. 21 AFCA) held off a late rally by the Fighting Scots for a 37-27 victory at John P. Papp Stadium Saturday afternoon.

When freshman Rob Holtz broke through the line and blocked a punt, which was recovered by teammate Kyle Murdock in the end zone for a touchdown at the 3:44 mark of the second quarter, Wooster (4-3, 3-1 NCAC) appeared to have all of the momentum. Also playing a big role in that sequence was Dana Obery, whose 48-yard punt four plays earlier was downed inside the one-yard line.

However, Wabash (6-1, 4-1 NCAC) retook the lead just three plays later when LeMond got behind the defense and hauled in a pass from Chase Belton, a freshman quarterback making his first career start, in stride en route to a 53-yard touchdown. Neither team scored the final 3:07 of the half, making it 17-14 at the break.

After the Scots' defense began the third quarter with a stop, the Little Giants' Jake Martin came up with a key interception on a ball that had been deflected and returned it 22 yards to the Wooster nine-yard line. On 3rd-and-goal from the 14, Belton hit LeMond on a crossing route for their second touchdown connection and a 24-14 advantage.

The two offenses were limited to just one first down over the next three possessions combined and then Wabash got moving again, as it went to the air for all six plays of a 48-yard drive, capped by a similar Belton-to-LeMond 17-yard touchdown over the middle. That put the score at 31-14.

The Scots responded with one of their best offensive series of the day, with Austin Holter directing them 76 yards down the field in just eight plays. Holter was 5-of-6 passing for 59 yards, capped by a 12-yarder to Jordan McIntyre for the score, which cut the deficit to 10 (31-21) early in the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, a holding penalty helped pin the Little Giants back at their own 13-yard line, but they would still manage to march the 87 yards, the final 30 coming when LeMond took a wide receiver screen and slipped through the defense for his fourth touchdown. Wabash did miss the ensuing point after attempt, which kept Wooster within striking distance, down two scores and two two-point conversions (37-21) with 9:08 left.

The Scots turned the ball over on downs at the Little Giants' 35 on the next possession, and then Matt DeGrand sacked and stripped Belton, with Chris Aukerman recovering the ball at the 3:56 mark. Wooster's offense took advantage, scoring seven plays later while converting a 4th-and-7 play along the way. The touchdown was a 15-yard sliding reception for Luke McCann from Holter. The Scots nearly cut the deficit to one score, but a pass on the two-point conversion attempt was dropped.

Wooster's Steve Custenborder did recover the ensuing on-sides kick with 2:11 remaining. On 1st-and-10, though, Holter was dropped for a rare sack by Bryan Watson and the Scots weren't able to get anything going after that, settling for the 10-point setback.

The difference in the game was turnovers, as Wooster committed three to Wabash's one late in the fourth quarter. Two critical ones occurred early in the second quarter, first with Kenny Coggins fading back into coverage and picking off a swing pass that he returned nine yards for a touchdown. On the next series, the Scots, after picking up a would-be first down on a 4th-and-1 play, fumbled at the Little Giants' four.

Statistically, Holter had another big day for Wooster, netting 74 rushing yards and 244 through the air while completing 21-of-43. Robert Flagg played an integral role in the offense with 62 yards on 13 rushes and a team-high five catches for 32 stripes, while McCann had 76 receiving yards, most of which came on a screen play that he took 47 yards for a touchdown during the first quarter.

For Wabash, Belton was very efficient, connecting on 18-of-31 pass attempts for 283 yards, with his top target being LeMond, who ended up with 10 receptions for 197 yards and the four scores. Pacing the ground attack was Kyle Stevens with 59 yards on 10 carries.

The Scots travel to Allegheny College (6-1, 3-1 NCAC) next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.