Box Score
Wooster 16, Ohio Wesleyan 14
Sophomore running back Marty Sesma (San Diego, Calif./Sweetwater) scored on a 1-yard run to give Ohio Wesleyan the lead late in the third quarter, but Wooster's Lake Barrett kicked a 25-yard field goal with :42 left in regulation time to give the Fighting Scots a North Coast Athletic Conference win over the Bishops on Saturday in Wooster.
The loss drops Ohio Wesleyan out of a tie for first place in the NCAC standings. Wabash and Denison are tied for the league lead at 6-1, and Ohio Wesleyan and Wittenberg are a game behind at 5-2.
Wooster led, 13-7, at the half, and the Scots looked to increase the lead on the opening drive of the third quarter, but on fourth-and-1 from the Ohio Wesleyan 19, junior linebacker Lucas Cooper (Hurricane, W.Va.) dropped Mateo Renteria for a 2-yard loss to give the ball back to the Bishops.
Later in the third quarter, Ohio Wesleyan took over on the Wooster 32 after a short punt, and the Bishops took advantage of the opportunity, with sophomore quarterback Zane Ries (Barberton) connecting with senior tight end Cody Brown (Lebanon) for 17 yards on the first play of the drive. Three straight runs by senior running back Carlos Cintron (San Diego, Calif./Countryside) moved the ball to the Wooster 1, and on third-and-goal, Sesma got the final yard to tie the game. Senior kicker Anthony Sanfillipo (Delaware/Hayes) connected on the point-after for a 14-13 Ohio Wesleyan lead.
The Bishops forced another punt and took over on the Wooster side of the field after a kick catching interference penalty late in the period, but the drive stalled at the Scot 13-yard line, and Sanfillipo's 30-yard field goal try was blocked.
Ohio Wesleyan returned the favor midway through the fourth quarter, with freshman cornerback Ian Riddle (Perrysburg) blocking a 23-yard field goal try by Barrett after Wooster had driven to the Ohio Wesleyan 6-yard line.
With 4:02 left in the game, Wooster took over on its 44-yard line and got first downs on third-down completions from Renteria to Nick Strausbaugh and Cole Hissong. A penalty gave the Scots a first down at the OWU 5, setting up Barrett's 25-yard field goal try.
Wooster squibbed the ensuing kickoff on the wet turf and the ball hit an Ohio Wesleyan player and was recovered by Wooster, allowing the Scots to run out the clock.
Ohio Wesleyan moved the ball into Wooster territory on its first 2 possessions of the day, but the first drive stalled at the Wooster 30 and the Bishops punted, and the second drive ended when Matt Ulishney picked off a Ries pass at the Wooster 5.
The third drive was the charm for the Bishops when Ries found senior wide receiver Mher Tcholakian (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) for a 22-yard touchdown on the opening play of the second quarter. Sanfillipo's point after made it 7-0.
Ulishney returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, but Riddle blocked Barrett's point-after try to keep the Bishops ahead.
Ohio Wesleyan looked to extend the lead later in the quarter, driving 66 yards to the Wooster 9-yard line, but Sanfillipo misfired on a 26-yard field goal try.
Wooster answered with Renteria completions to Hissong for 18 yards and Strausbaugh for 29 yards, then on first-and-goal from the OWU 5, Renteria dove and extended the ball over the goal line with :18 left in the first half to give the hosts a 13-7 lead.
Ries completed 20 of 32 passes for 219 yards and a score. Senior wide receiver Sasoun Tcholakian (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) made 4 catches for 59 yards, sophomore wide receiver Kenny Streb (Willowick/Eastlake North) had 4 catches for 49 yards, and senior wide receiver Justin Lowry (Litchfield/Buckeye) caught 4 passes for 36 yards. Cintron led the Bishops with 49 yards on 10 rushes.
Cooper led the Bishops with 10 tackles. Senior safety Nick Heidel (Cincinnati/Indian Hill) added 8 stops and a pass breakup, and junior linebacker Shane Quin (Chardon) made 8 tackles, including 1 for loss.
Renteria completed 16 of 29 passes for 165 yards. Strausbaugh had 9 catches for 102 yards. Troy Baughman led the Scots with 51 yards on 24 carries. Mark Herron had a team-high 10 tackles, including 1 for loss.
Box Score
