Ohio Wesleyan 21, Wooster 7

Nov. 12, 2005

Junior halfback Nick Rice (Dublin/Scioto) ran for one touchdown and threw for another and senior quarterback Ryan Sir Louis (Hinckley/Highland) ran for 132 yards and a score as Ohio Wesleyan defeated Wooster in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Saturday at Wooster.

Despite starting the game on their own 6-yard line after a fumble on the opening kickoff, Ohio Wesleyan wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. On the first play from scrimmage, Sir Louis found sophomore split end Zach Dennis (Jefferson) for 47 yards, moving the ball into Wooster territory. Sir Louis ran for 22 yards on the next play, then freshman halfback Calvin Willis (Hanford, Calif./West) picked up 18 more for a first-and-goal at the Wooster 7-yard line. Sir Louis gained 6 yards on first down and Rice got the last yard for the touchdown. Freshman Chris Kras (Aurora) converted the PAT kick for a 7-0 Bishop lead less than 2 minutes into the game.

The Bishop defense recorded a 3-and-out on Wooster's first possession, and the Ohio Wesleyan offense came back with another downfield march, with key plays including a 23-yard connection from Sir Louis to Dennis, and a 15-yard Sir Louis scramble that set up a first down at the Wooster 4-yard line. On the next play, however, Sir Louis' pass was intercepted by Bobby Block in the end zone for a touchback.

After another Wooster punt, the Bishops took over at their own 15-yard line and assembled another long march. Key plays included Sir Louis' 51-yard gallop on third-and-1 that set up a first down at the Wooster 25, and Sir Louis' 2-yard pickup on fourth-and-1 from the Fighting Scot 16. Willis picked up 6 yards for a first down at the Wooster 4, and from there, it took Sir Louis 2 carries to reach paydirt, with the Bishop quarterback going over from 1 yard out. Kras' PAT gave the Bishops a 14-0 edge with 13:40 left in the second quarter.

Sophomore linebacker Chad Ellis (Dublin/Scioto) picked off a Bobby Reiff pass and returned it to the Wooster 40 to give the Bishops excellent field position on their next possession, but the Wooster defense stiffened and Ohio Wesleyan was forced to punt.

The Scots came back with a drive into Ohio Wesleyan territory, but on third-and-3 from the Bishop 36, senior defensive tackle Steve Greene (Mansfield/Senior) sacked Reiff for a loss of 9 yards to force another Wooster punt. Wooster's next possession also ended at the Ohio Wesleyan 36-yard line, with the Scots facing a fourth-and-1 from that spot. This time, it was sophomore defensive back Josh Wheeler (Columbus/Dublin Scioto) and junior defensive end Owen Case (Marion/River Valley) combining to stop Wooster tailback Dustin Sheppard for no gain, giving the ball back to the Bishop offense.

The third quarter was a defensive battle, with each team allowing only 1 first down during the period. Junior safety Kyle Sherman (Plain City/Dublin Scioto) and Ellis picked off Reiff passes during the quarter to help preserve the 14-0 Bishop lead.

After taking the ball over on downs midway through the fourth quarter, the Bishops increased their lead to 21-0 on Rice's 44-yard pass to Dennis. Earlier in the possession, Rice had caught a 17-yard pass from Sir Louis for a first down.

Wooster answered with a drive of its own, with Reiff connecting with Shaun Swearingen for 16 yards and a first down, then finding Aaron Gertz for 14 yards and a first down at the Bishop 25-yard line.

Case ended the Wooster threat, however, picking off a Reiff pass at the Bishop 17-yard line with 3:26 to play.

Wooster got the ball back on Sir Louis' fumble at the 25-yard line, but Reiff threw 4 straight incompletions.

With the ball on its own 27-yard line with 1:58 remaining, the Bishops looked to run out the clock. Senior halfback Ryan Mead (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) picked up 7 yards on first down and senior Cisco Clervoix (Naples, Fla.) gained 1 yard on second down. On third-and-2, Wooster's Brandon French forced a fumble and Josh Feesler picked up the loose ball and returned it 34 yards for a score with :22 to play, averting the shutout.

Sir Louis led the Bishops with 132 yards on 21 carries and completed 7 of 9 passes for 113 yards. Rice added 45 yards on 11 rushes and caught a pass for 17 yards, and Dennis caught 5 passes for 124 yards.

Case led the Bishops with 10 tackles, including half a tackle for loss, intercepted one pass and broke up another. Greene finished with 8 tackles, including 1 1/2 sacks and 2 1/2 for loss; and Clervoix had 7 stops, including 1 1/2 sacks and 3 for loss, and forced a Wooster fumble. Ellis had 3 tackles, including 1 for loss, and picked off 2 passes.

For Wooster, Sheppard led the way with 75 yards on 23 rushes. Reiff completed 14 of 30 passes for 177 yards, with Greg Peltz and Gertz catching 5 passes apiece.

Phil Vitalbo led the Scot defense with 12 tackles, while Evan Watson had 8 stops, including a sack, and forced 2 fumbles.

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