WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster went into the trick well for a 56-yard touchdown pass, and first-year Q Renteria was a defensive force during Ohio Wesleyan University's 35-7 win over the Fighting Scots' football team on Saturday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.
Wooster (2-3, 1-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) was trailing 14-0 when the Scots worked the ball to senior wide receiver Troy Baughman in the backfield. With Ohio Wesleyan (2-2, 2-0 NCAC) closing in on Baughman, sophomore Brazos Gadler took off down the sideline, caught the pass from his fellow wide receiver, went all the way for the 56-yard touchdown. Senior Lake Barrett's extra point had Wooster within 14-7 at the 9:47 mark of the third quarter.
Ohio Wesleyan returned the kickoff to just shy of midfield, and marched right down the field, with Jackson Gifford's 12-yard touchdown run up the middle making it a two-score game at the 7:46 mark of the third quarter. Three offensive plays later, Ian Riddle picked off Wooster senior quarterback Mateo Renteria, and ran the pick back to the Scots' 7-yard line before Gifford made quick work of the short-field setup with his second touchdown of the afternoon. Gifford scored again in the fourth, prior to Gabriel Chlebowski's extra point upping the Battling Bishops' lead to 35-7.
Earlier in the game, Wooster sent Ohio Wesleyan backwards on three straight plays. Senior defensive tackle Nkosi Stewart exploded through the middle to disrupt a handoff, which resulted in Gifford getting dumped for a 6-yard loss once Ohio Wesleyan worked the ball inside Wooster's 30-yard line with about 7:00 left in the opening quarter. Q Renteria chased down Kaden Buza for a 14-yard sack on the second-down play, setting up a third-and-30 situation for the Battling Bishops. Q Renteria met Buza in the backfield for a 4-yard loss on the third-down snap; however, due to the play being a designed quarterback draw, he missed out on sacks on consecutive plays.
Q Renteria did get his second sack of the game in the second quarter. On that play the first-year linebacker dropped Buza for a loss of 13 yards after Ohio Wesleyan took over on downs inside Wooster territory.
Fueled by 54 yards lost on five sacks, Ohio Wesleyan held Wooster to just 170 yards of total offense. First-year Jarvis Mims Jr. accounted for 56 of those on 11 carriers, with a long of 19 yards. Mateo Renteria went 10-of-24 passing for 76 yards and two interceptions, while senior tight end Cole Hissong had four receptions for 33 yards.
Defensively, first-year Brock Sivon and senior Matt Ulishney logged nine tackles apiece, and senior punter Matt Pardi came through with a 43.3 average over seven punts.
Gifford's three-touchdown day came on 97 yards, and he needed 22 carries to get there. Buza completed 17-of-21 passes for 208 yards and two scores. Josh Hurst's ability to gain positive yardage on quick swing passes helped the offensive keep drives alive, as he had 84 yards on nine catches, with 71 of the stripes coming after the catch was secured.
Marquel Henry got to Renteria for three sacks for a loss of 37 yards, and Trevar Meese had the Bishops' other interception.
Ohio Wesleyan had 373 yards of total offense, 19 first downs to Wooster's 10, and was 7-of-15 on third down, to just a 2-of-12 showing for Wooster.
Wooster's idle next Saturday and returns to the gridiron at Kenyon College (1-3, 0-2 NCAC) on October 15. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.