The College of Wooster football team could not build momentum following early sacks and pass breakups in Saturday's 38-0 Homecoming and Family Weekend loss to Denison University at John P. Papp Stadium.

Junior linebacker Cam Crago continued his big playmaking on the game's opening drive, dropping Denison quarterback Brian Rager for a 7-yard sack on the Big Red's third offensive play of the game. Rager climbed out of the setback, rushing for 20 yards on a third-and-14 snap to move the chains, and Denison capped the 10-play, 62-yard drive with a 6-yard Samson Schneider touchdown rush to open the scoring at the 9:27 mark of the first.

Wooster sophomore cornerback Brady Keller picked up the offense following a Denison interception, breaking up first- and third-down Rager passes, resulting in an early three-and-out for the Fighting Scots' defense. Two drives later, first-year defensive lineman Brody Eckelbarger got to Rager for a 4-yard sack, but again, Denison moved the sticks on third-and-14 before scoring on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Rager to Grayson Kerscher. The Kerscher touchdown reception made it 20-0.

Senior linebacker Christian Kring got to Rager for the Scots' third sack of the day coming out of the 2:00 timeout in the second quarter. Junior defensive back Damion Cunningham stopped the Big Red on the fourth down, breaking up a pass intended for Graham Tonkonogy in the end zone, keeping the score at 24-0.

Similar to the theme on defense, Wooster was unable to string anything together following its big offensive plays. Those included a 48-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Damon Hooks to first-year wideout Zeek Seraphin in the second quarter that set up the offense at Denison's 31-yard line. A promising fourth-quarter drive sparked by a 33-yard Seraphin kickoff return was stopped by a Denison interception at the Big Red's 20-yard line. Wooster again reached the red zone in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 16-yard reception from first-year Junie Higgs. However, Hooks was intercepted in the end zone by Ben Salfy in the final 35 seconds of the game.

Hooks completed 16-of-37 passes for 190 yards and was intercepted three times. Seraphin led Wooster's receivers with 65 yards on three catches. Hooks' scrambling abilities led to 50 net yards on 21 carries.

Crago led all players with nine tackles. Kring followed with six, two of which came in the Big Red's backfield.

Rager completed 13-of-23 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns for Denison. Tonkonogy went for 80 yards on four catches, one of which was a touchdown. Kade Koroneos led the rushers with 67 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Denison had five sacks and four interceptions in the game. Perin had one of the sacks and led the Big Red with six tackles, while Cole Harris made a game-high two interceptions.

Denison outgained Wooster 362-260. The Big Red were 4-for-10 on third down, compared to 3-for-16 for Wooster.

Denison improved to 2-1 with a 2-0 record within the North Coast Athletic Conference. Wooster is now 1-2, 1-1 NCAC.

Next, Wooster travels to Wabash College (3-0, 2-0 NCAC) for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, September 26.