Box Score Wooster, Ohio - DePauw battled back from a pair of first-half deficits and scored 10 straight in the fourth quarter and held on for a 34-30 North Coast Athletic Conference victory at Wooster. The Tigers improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the NCAC, while the Fighting Scots dropped to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the NCAC.
Wooster's defense opened with a three-and-out and its offense took advantage with a 6-play, 45-yard drive capped by Mateo Renteria's 3-yard pass to Cole Hissong. On DePauw's second offensive series, Chase Andries and Jaylon Smith teamed for a pass deep into Wooster territory on third-and-25, but it was called back after pass interference was called on the Tigers.
Midway through the quarter, Dylan Hyatt's third interception of the season appeared to result in a pick six, but was called back due to a penalty. The Tigers' offense stalled, but DePauw forced another Wooster turnover early in the second as Joe Zanca made the hit on Troy Baughman and David Guhl recovered at the DePauw 49.
Six plays later, Andries connected with Jaylon Smith for a 24-yard score with 11:28 left in the half to even the score at 7-7. The Fighting Scots responded quickly as Reneteria completed passes totaling 51 yards on the first two plays of the ensuing drive and then connected with Hissong for a 15-yard score with 9:42 remaining.
Andries scored on a 1-yard run with 2:34 left in the half to wrap up a 16-play, 74-yard series and even the score at 14-14. The Tigers converted three third-down plays along the way.
Wooster's third turnover of the half occurred on the first play of its next drive as Guhl forced Renteria to fumble and Ben Burger recovered for the Tigers at the Wooster 37. DePauw couldn't convert and the teams went to the intermission tied, 14-14.
Henry Locke picked off Renteria on the second play of the second half and the Tigers' offense took advantage with a 9-play, 73-yard drive capped by Andries' 9-yard pass to Trey Shaw which gave DePauw its first lead of the game.
The teams exchanged punts and Wooster was on the move, but its third fumble of the game gave DePauw the ball on its own 21. Joe Sullivan booted a 33-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth to push the DePauw lead to 24-14.
The Fighting Scots came right back as Renteria teamed with Mitchell Heilman for an 11-yard score that came at the end of a 10-play, 75-yard drive. DePauw's lone turnover of the game came on the second play of its next possession as Drew Moore fumbled and Wooster recovered at the DePauw 32. The Fighting Scots converted that into Lake Barrett's 21-yard field goal score that knotted the contest at 24-24 with 7:52 left.
DePauw then took nearly six minutes off the clock as it converted three first downs with Gus Baumgartner scoring on a 3-yard run with just 1:46 left. Sullvan's point-after made it 31-24. The Tigers' defense stopped Wooster on its next series and Sullivan nailed a 32-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to seal the win.
Wooster scored on the game's final play as Renteria connected with Hissong on a 17-yard score.
DePauw outgained Wooster on the ground, 217-26, with Wooster holding an edge through the air of 355-143.
Baumgartner rushed for 97 yards and Moore added 91, while Andries completed 15 of 21 passes for 143 yards. Shaw had four of those catches for 50 yards.
Andrew Yanssens rushed for 41 yards on five carries and Renteria completed 29 of 41 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns. Hissong caught 10 for 119 yards and three scores, while Heilman caught eight for 145 yards.
Brevon Gude paced DePauw's defense with eight tackles, while Daniel Rafeedie, Zanca and Luke Marsh each finished with six. Zanca had three tackles for losses totaling 18 yards. Angelo Petracci led Wooster with 12 stops and Andrew Armile added 10.
DePauw returns to action on Saturday, October 2, when it hosts Hiram at 1 p.m.
