DePauw stays undefeated with 51-24 win

Wooster scored on the game’s first possession, but DePauw scored on five straight possessions on the way to a 51-24 North Coast Athletic Conference win. The Tigers moved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the NCAC in their home opener, while the Fighting Scots dropped to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

The Fighthing Scots scored first on Trevor Bowden’s 23-yard field goal that capped a 13-play, 68-yard series.

The teams exchanged punts before DePauw reached the board on Tanner Cleveland’s 10-yard run.

DePauw’s defense limited Wooster to just one more first down in the quarter and the Tigers made it 14-3 when Andy Hunt caught a 14-yard pass from Matt Labus with 1:50 left in the opening quarter.

Labus found Chase Sadler for an 18-yard score on the first play of the second to push the lead to 21-3.

DePauw’s defense forced another change of possession on downs and Jake Tanner booted a 39-yard field goal to make it 24-3 with 11:33 remaining in the half.

Wooster countered on its next series with Gary Muntean completing a 34-yard scoring pass to Nick Strausbaugh with 8:31 left in the half before the Tigers came right back with a 57-yard pass play from Labus to Hunt.

Muntean’s 1-yard run with 1:19 remaining in the half closed the Tigers’ lead to 31-17.

DePauw then put the game away early in the third as the Tigers needed just four plays on the opening series of the half with Labus and Hunt again teaming up for a 36-yard score. The Tigers stopped Wooster on downs at the DePauw 17 and then embarked on a 9-play, 83-yard drive that ended with Labus tossing a 13-yard TD pass to Jake Hagan.

DePauw returns to action on Saturday at Ohio Wesleyan in a 2 p.m. contest.

• Labus gets NCAC honor — Labus was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his play in DePauw’s 51-24 win over Wooster.

Labus completed 17-of-22 attempts for 303 yards and five touchdowns, including a 57-yard touchdown pass to Andy Hunt late in the second quarter.

Labus also tallied 11 rushes for 50 yards. With a 267.96 passing efficiency rating on Saturday, Labus now ranks third in the nation in passing efficiency for the season at 201.3.