Scots crash Hiram’s party [Daily Record, The (Wooster, OH)]

HIRAM -- The Hiram football team was hoping for a Homecoming Day celebration Saturday against the College of Wooster. After all, the Terriers were coming of their first shutout victory last week since 1995, and searching for their first 3-1 start to a season since 1988.

Instead, Wooster'sRichard Barnes threw for 343 yards and three scores, and Sean Hackel rushed for 155 more as the Scots crashed the Terriers' party with a 38-24 thrashing of the hosts in North Coast Athletic Conference action at Charles A. Henry Field.

Wooster High product Darrian Owens added a game-high 137 yards receiving as the Scots defeated Hiram (2-2, 1-2 NCAC) for the 10th consecutive time, and 35th overall in the series' 40 meetings. The Scots improved to 2-1 for the first time since 2009, and a perfect 2- 0 in NCAC play.

"We stressed all week long that getting off to a good start would be important in a game like (Saturday's), because (Hiram) is a pretty good football team playing with a lot of confidence," said Wooster coach Frank Colaprete. "Our guys are enjoying playing the game right now, and as long as we keep executing and learn how to close games out, like we did (Saturday), we'll keep growing as a football team."

The Scots scored early, often, and in quick-strike fashion, as Barnes, last week's NCAC Offensive Player of the Week, led the Scots to four first-half scoring drives, none taking more than 1:55 off the clock.

Following Vinnie Congedo's interception on Hiram's first drive of the game, Barnes led the Scots 65 yards in six plays, connecting with Owens from 29 yards, giving the Scots a 7-0 lead with 11:47 left in the opening quarter.

"I really thought, if I put the time in during the summer and preseason practice, that I could make an impact right away," said Owens. "The chemistry with Richard is getting better and better each week, and hopefully we can get on a roll and keep winning games."

Wooster extended its lead to 14-0 in the waning seconds of the first, as Barnes hooked up with Justin Rice on a 5-yard scoring pass, capping a scoring drive that went 69 yards on four plays.

One possession later, Barnes added another score, as the senior scored from 17 yards out with his legs, giving the Scots a 21-0 lead with 12:56 left in the opening half.

Hiram finally got on the board on its next possession, however, as QB George Blake found Richard Simpson wide open down the middle from 71 yards, trimming the Wooster lead to 21-7.

Barnes and Rice once again found the end zone with 5:01 left, this one from 17 yards out and a 28-7 Wooster lead at the break. The TD reception was Rice's fifth of the season.

"It's a combination of a lot of things that has enabled me to play this well so far," said Barnes. "Our coaching staff has instilled so much confidence in me, that I'm able to just play football. Our line is doing a great job, and the chemistry that (Justin Rice) and myself have developed is paying off, too. Not only was he a high school teammate of mine, he's also my roommate, and he's always in my ear to get him the ball," joked Barnes. "But in all seriousness, we made a concerted effort this year to get Justin more involved and we've done that.

"And, Sean (Hackel) is playing just great right now," he added. "It's a great thing to have a guy running the ball that well in your backfield, as it takes a lot of pressure off the passing game."

Barnes was 14-of-19 for 243 yards and three scores, while rushing for 43 stripes and another score in the first half, accounting for 286 of Wooster's 323 first-half yards. Barnes entered Saturday's contest averaging 285 yards of total offense, tops in the conference.

Hiram made things interesting in the third quarter, however, as the Scots were turned away on back-to-back possessions on fourth down.

After turning the Scots away at the Hiram 43, Blake connected with Simpson from 57 yards on the Terriers' second play of the drive to cut Wooster's advantage to 28-14 with 7:59 left.

Wooster added an insurance score early in the fourth after taking advantage of good field position following a failed fake punt attempt by the Terriers at their own 38.

After the Scots drove inside the Hiram 10, penalties pushed the Scots to near midfield, before settling for a 32-yard field goal by Zach Moore a 31-14 lead with 9:08 left in the game.

Hackel capped the Wooster scoring with a 48-yard run with 3:31 remaining.

The interceptions by Congedo and Brandon James, along with a fumble recovery, have given the Scots nine takeaways this season, while playing turnover-free the last two weeks.

"We stress playing efficient football, during practice and games, and that means hanging on to the ball," said Colaprete. "And, (Barnes) is playing great football right now, too, and that's all on him.

"He had to earn the job in preseason practice, and he's playing at a high level for us right now."

Barnes finished the afternoon 25-of-34 passing, adding another 55 on the ground for the Scots.

Rice and Jesse Lane combined for 13 receptions and 153 yards, while Owens and fellow freshman Keir Pace added five and four grabs, respectively.

Blake finished the game 20-of-35 for 357 yards passing, with Nate Eaton grabbing a game-high nine passes for the Terriers.