Wittenberg Dismantles Urbana On Record-Setting Community Night

The Wittenberg University football team got off to a good start Saturday night at Edwards-Maurer Field, jumping out to a 42-0 lead on visiting Urbana en route to a 42-17 victory. The Tigers, coming off a second consecutive 11-1 season, won their season opener for the sixth consecutive year.

The game was filled with highlights for the overflow crowd on community night at Wittenberg. Senior tailback Casey Donaldson (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) broke the 22-year-old school record for career rushing yards with a six-yard carry midway through the first quarter. Dave Merritt had previously held the mark of 3,759.

Donaldson found the end zone three times (adding to his school record in scoring as well) and he finished with 130 yards on 24 carries in the game. His back-up, sophomore Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont), added 47 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Labon Storts (Columbus, Ohio/Westland) rounded out the scoring with his first-quarter touchdown reception thrown by senior quarterback Anthony Crane (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis).

Donaldson's heroics and the offense may have stolen the headlines, but the Wittenberg defense was its usually stout self, limiting the Blue Knights to 200 yards in total offense, much of that coming in the anti-climactic fourth quarter. Junior defensive back Andy Waddle (Greenon, Ohio/Enon), who was playing in his first game with the Tigers since transferring from the University of Findlay, blocked three punts in the game. That is believed to be a school record.