Box Score Hiram, OH -- Sept. 10, 2022 -- The Hiram College Football team rallied from a 21-point deficit to tie Wooster, 21-21, early in the third quarter before the offensive strength of the Fighting Scots reeled off four unanswered touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters, to defeat the Terriers, 49-21, at Henry Field on Saturday afternoon.

Wooster started quickly, taking the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards on nine plays in 3:09 to take a 7-0 lead. Senior quarterback Mateo Renteria tossed an eight-yard swing pass to senior running back Andrew Yanssens who carried it into the end zone.  Renteria completed 4-of-7 passes for 54 yards in that opening drive.

Hiram fumbled during the return of the ensuing kickoff and Wooster took over at the Hiram 28-yardline. Seven plays later, Yanssens  rushed two yards up the middle to take a 14-0 lead while Hiram had not yet run an offensive play.

At the start of the second quarter, Wooster completed a nine-play, 60-yard drive in 3:21 to increase the lead to 21-0.

That's when the game turned in favor of the Terriers.  Hiram took over on its own 25-yardline and drove 75 yards on 10 plays in 4:11, to start the comeback, 21-7, with 10:08 remaining in the first half.  The Terriers scored on a 21-yard TD pass from senior QB Xavier Rayero to fifth-year senior receiver Moe Yarbrough who made the catch in the end zone.  Senior running back Malcolm Rogers picked up 36 yards in five carries during the drive.

The teams each traded two possessions until Hiram punted the ball to Wooster sophomore receiver Brazos Gadler, who fair caught the ball on the Wooster three-yardline with :50 seconds left of the clock.  After a 15-yard gain in a Renreria-to-Gadler pass down the right sideline to the 18-yardline, Renertia's next pass was intercepted by Hiram sophomore cornerback Tay Revis, who returned the INT 22 yards to the Scots 16-yardline.   On the fourth play, Yarbrough ran to the right for the final two yards and scored with :10 seconds left in the first half.  Hiram had stolen the momentum from Wooster as the Terriers had scored the final 14 points of the half to trail by only seven at the intermission.

Hiram received the second-half kickoff. On the first play from scrimmage, Rogers rushed the left side for 18 yards to the 31-yardline.  Then, Rogers swept the left side, using his blockers down the left sideline,, and completed a scintillating 69-yard TD run that tied the game at 21-21 just 55 seconds into the third quarter. That brought the fans to their feet and generated excited enthusiasm to the Terriers team.

But Wooster had the answer, as Renteria -- rated the #2 QB in the NCAC --  showed his talent.  He led the Scots to four TD's the rest of the way to make the final score look very different from the 21-21 tie in the third quarter.  Renteria completed 27-of-43 passes for 396 yards and three TDs with a pair of interceptions.  Senior tight end Cole Hissong led al receivers with eight catches for 140 yards and a score. 

Rogers took game-high rushing honors with 160 yards and a TD on 15 carries. Yarbrough collected 158 all-purpose yards with 82 receiving yards, 46 kick return yards, 17 punt return yards, and 13 receiving yards.  Rayero completed 18-of-29 passes for 173 yards, one TD and one INT. . The Terriers gained 199 rushing yards, but lost 60 on eight sacks by the Wooster defense.

Hiram's junior linebacker Dylan Baliker topped the defense with seven solo tackles and four more assists.  

The Terriers -- 0-2 this season -- will host DePauw next Saturday, Sept. 17, at Henry Field at noon.