WOOSTER, Ohio - Wooster scored three touchdowns in a seven-minute span in the second half to break open a tight game and top the Gators 42-21 in North Coast Athletic Conference action at John P. Papp Stadium.

The Fighting Scots (3-2, 3-1 NCAC) amassed 349 rushing yards on the game and scored five touchdowns on the ground to hand the Gators (1-4, 1-3 NCAC) their third consecutive defeat. 

The hosts showcased their ground game on their opening possession, as they needed just 3:54 to cover 66 yards in 10 plays - nine of which were runs - in taking a 7-0 lead on a three-yard run by Derrick Johnson.  

Allegheny looked to counter with a long drive of its own on its first possession, picking up three first downs and advancing inside the Wooster 40, but it ended in a punt that pinned the Fighting Scots inside their own 18-yard line.  Wooster went back to the ground, with running back Tyler Smith gaining 42 yards on eight carries and capping off the drive with a one-yard plunge on fourth and goal to up the lead to 14-0 with 1:05 left in the opening stanza.

Over the next several moments, the teams would trade punts and turnovers, as the Gators next drive was stalled with a fumble, while the Fighting Scots saw a scoring chance thwarted when Travis Thomas tallied his second interception in as many weeks when he picked off a Wooster pass in the end zone with 6:13 left in the first half.

Allegheny showcased its running game to finally get on the board with just under five minutes left in the second quarter.  Taking over at the Wooster 41, quarterback Jon Nigro ran three times for 25 yards, before halfback Nick Deichler closed out the 8-play drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge.  Ben Ziolkowski's extra point was good to pull the Gators to within 14-7 with 4:44 left.

The Gator defense then responded, allowing just six yards over the Fighting Scots' next drive to force a punt.  However, Wooster caught the Gators off guard with a fake, as Smith took the direct snap from the long snapper and scampered 66 yards into the end zone to up the lead to 21-7 with 2:38 left in the half.  In the closing seconds of the first half and with the ball inside their own 10, the Fighting Scots used a quick no-huddle offense and took advantage of a costly Gator penalty to advance inside the Allegheny 30 with 10 seconds left.  However, a 50-yard field goal attempt as time expired went wide left, sending the game into halftime with Wooster leading by 14.

The Gators received the ball to start the second half, and put together its best drive of the game.  Deichler gained 21 yards on the first three plays of the half, before Nigro hooked up with Andrew Niklaus for a 26-yard completion to set up first down at the Wooster 19.  A facemask penalty against the Fighting Scots moved the ball inside the Wooster 10, and two plays later, Nigro hit tight end Nick Matic for a five-yard touchdown pass to again pull to within seven with 10:49 left in the third quarter.

Wooster would then take control on both sides of the ball.  On their next drive, quarterback Richard Barnes completed three passes for 76 yards, before capping it off with a three-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-14.  The Fighting Scots then surrendered just two yards on Allegheny's next three-play drive, and Barnes closed out their next possession with a 10-yard touchdown run.  

Jake Wilson gained 24 yards on three carries to open up the Gators' next possession, but it would stall after an incomplete pass on fourth down.  Barnes followed with two runs for 29 yards, before hooking up with Keir Pace for a 20-yard touchdown to give the hosts a commanding 42-14 lead with 9:44 left in regulation.

Allegheny closed out the day's scoring on its final possession of the day.  Juwan Campbell opened the drive with four runs for 25 yards, before Tyler McLaughlin found Chris Bourne in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown with 2:02 left.  It marked the first touchdown in the careers of both McLaughlin and Bourne.

The Fighting Scots ended the day with 510 yards of total offense, including 349 rushing yards.  The Gators tallied 322 yards for the game.  Nigro completed 17 of 29 passes for 151 yards, with his favorite target being Niklaus, who hauled in seven passes for 102 yards, marking his second 100-yard game of the season.  Wilson paced the Gator ground game, gaining 42 yards on seven carries, while Nigro ran nine times for 42 yards.

Defensively, freshman Nick Murgo recorded a game-high 15 tackles, including 1.5 for loss and a half sack, while also forcing a fumble.  It marked the highest number of tackles for a Gator defender since Jake Szoszorek also posted 15 against Wooster on Oct. 12 of last season.  Wyatt Boyler added eight tackles for the Gators, while Ryan Sherry and Freddy Ruiz each finished with seven.

Barnes was the catlyst for Wooster's offense, as the senior ran 22 times for 129 yards and two scores, while also completing 16 of 25 passes for 157 yards.  He was one of two Fighting Scots to amass 100 yards, as Smith added 116 yards on 25 carries.  Pace was the team's leading receiver with six catches for 66 yards.  

The Gators will return to action on Sat. Oct. 18, kicking off a two-game homestand with a 2 p.m. Homecoming contest at Frank B. Fuhrer Field against Oberlin.