WOOSTER, Ohio – Freshman Lake Barrett drilled a go-ahead 25-yard field goal with :42 remaining, and classmate Dorion Talley secured a 16-14 win over North Coast Athletic Conference tri-leading Ohio Wesleyan University by recovering a fumble after Barrett's squib kick deflected off of the Battling Bishops' Braydon Chitty capping a wild game on Saturday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.
Wooster (5-3, 4-3 NCAC) converted on a trio of third downs leading up to Barrett's game-winning field goal. First, sophomore Mateo Renteria found senior Nick Strausbaugh for a 14-yard gain that moved the ball to Ohio Wesleyan's (6-2, 5-2 NCAC) 35-yard line. Next, Renteria rolled to his right on a third-and-8 play, and classmate Cole Hissong was able to stay inbounds while securing an 18-yard reception at the Battling Bishops' 15-yard line. Then, Ohio Wesleyan's Ian Riddle was flagged for pass interference on a third-and-10 snap, and that spotted the pigskin five yards shy of the goal line.
Noteworthy, Barrett's field goal moved him into a tie with Ben Arnold (1997), Richie McNally (2004), and Russ Palm (2009) for the most field goals in a season at 10.
Thanks to light-to-moderate rain showers in the second half, Wooster looked to roll the ball along the turf on its final kickoff. Chitty attempted to leap out of the way in time, but the ball deflected off his leg toward an oncoming surge of Scots. Talley fell on the pigskin at Wooster's 47-yard line.
The Scots had a chance to take the lead with 5:38 remaining, but Riddle blocked Wooster's 23-yard field goal attempt. Wooster's defense took charge from there, and in the process, set the offense up with plenty of time to operate on the game-winning drive. Ohio Wesleyan looked to its run game to eat time off the clock, only to see it go nowhere on the first two plays. Curtis Duren was greeted near the line of scrimmage by senior D'Andre Brown and junior Kobe Matesic on the first-down snap. Duren didn't fare any better on his second-down carry, with freshman Brandon Holt spilling the senior after a gain of two. Ohio Wesleyan's Zane Ries did find the open target on third down in the form of Kenny Streb, but the Bishops' signal-caller overthrew his sophomore wideout.
Saturday's onset was nearly as wild as the finish. Wooster attempted a halfback pass on its first drive, and nearly coughed up the ball. Ohio Wesleyan's Kyle Hogan stripped the ball from sophomore running back Troy Baughman. Wooster senior left tackle Mick Appel emerged from the pile with the pigskin, but a play later, Ohio Wesleyan's Cole Nixon picked off Renteria's pass at the Scots' 22-yard line.
After the interception, Ohio Wesleyan was knocking on the door of the end zone after Marty Sesma's 2-yard rush moved the ball inside the 10-yard line. Wooster freshman Matt Ulishney answered the knock with a diving interception at the 5-yard line after classmate Korey Simmons batted Ries' pass away from the intended receiver.
Ulishney's day was just getting started with the interception. The Scots' rookie put his team on the scoreboard when he ran back a kickoff 90 yards for a score with 14:40 left in the second quarter. He was on the cusp of returning the third quarter's opening kickoff for a touchdown, but ultimately had to settle for a 59-yard run back. Luke Hurlburt and Nixon were able to catch up to Ulishney, and eventually wrestled him down after the Scots' return specialist cut back inside to avoid a tackle try by the kicker.
Renteria staked Wooster to the lead with :18 left in the second quarter. The Scots' signal-caller took off to his right, dove, and had just enough extension to get the pigskin over the goal line, for what officially went down as a 5-yard keeper. Barrett's extra point upped the lead to 13-7.
A Ries-to-Mhen Tcholakian 22-yard touchdown pass opened the scoring in the second quarter, while Sesma scored from a yard out with 4:01 left in the third. Ohio Wesleyan had a chance to extend its lead to 17-13 with 13:10 remaining in the game. On that play, Wooster junior Mark Herron burst through the line in time to deflect Anthony Sanfillipo's 30-yard field goal try.
Renteria completed 16-of-29 passes for 165 yards, 102 of which were logged by Strausbaugh, who had nine receptions. Baughman toted the ball 24 times for 51 yards.
Herron led Wooster with 10 tackles and the blocked kick. Sophomore Eric Kraus finished with nine tackles, while Holt, Matesic, and senior K.C. Okoronkwo had Wooster's sacks on the afternoon.
Ries completed 20-of-32 passes for 219 yards, and his completions were spread out to seven receivers. Carlos Clinton led the stable of backs with 10 carries for 49 stripes.
Lucas Copper finished with a co-game-high 10 tackles, while Riddle made seven stops, broke up three passes, and had two blocked kicks.
Of note, the all-time series is now tied 32-32-0.
Next, Wooster's at Allegheny College (2-6, 2-5 NCAC) on Saturday, November 9. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.