September 9, 2000 - Wooster at Kalamazoo

The Wooster offense combined for 444 total yards as the Scots defeated Kalamazoo 32-16 in the season opener for both teams.

Wooster quarterback Justin Abraham connected on 24-of-35 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Chris Cabot was the target on touchdown strikes of 39 and 20 yards. The other two Wooster touchdowns were on completions of 32 and 34 yards.

Kalamazoo rode the arms of sophomore Zach Ellis and freshman Bryan Gnyp. Ellis completed 12-of-19 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown. Gnyp was six-of-11 for 80 yards.

Jason Charnley had six receptions for 63 yards. T.J. Thayer had five catches for 60 yards. Running back Brent Jackson had three receptions for 65 yards.

Kalamazoo's first touchdown tied the game at 7-7 with 6:12 left in the first. Ellis completed a pass to Jackson who ran to the Wooster four-yard line before fumbling the ball. The ball trickled into the end zone where sophomore tight end Zach Burton pounced on it for the score.

Trailing 22-7 in the third quarter, Brant Haverdink picked off a Wooster pass and returned it 29 yards to the Wooster 24. Kalamazoo settled for a 41-yard field goal from junior Tom Hillemeier.

Kalamazoo returned to Wooster territory later in the third following a nine-play, 55-yard drive to the Wooster one-yard line. Justin Gross was able to punch it in for the score on third-and-goal to make it 22-16 after a missed extra point.

Wooster responded and put the game out of reach with a 24-yard field goal early in the fourth, and a 20-yard touchdown pass with 3:03 left in the game.

Justin Gross led the Hornets rushing attack with 33 yards on nine carries. Jackson had 28 yards on 11 carries.

T.J. Thayer sparked the special teams with several long kick and punt returns.

Nate Hurst added a 38-yard interception return on defense. Junior captain Brant Haverdink had a game-high 15 tackles. Tim Prater had a quarterback sack.

Kalamazoo returns to action next week at home against the College of Mount St. Joseph.

Game Statistics