Wittenberg Jumps Out To Another Big Lead, Coasts Home For Victory

TIFFIN, Ohio — For a second straight week, Wittenberg leaped out to a huge lead in the first half and cruised home for a victory, this time defeating host Heidelberg 33-14.

Senior tailback Casey Donaldson (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern), a week after setting the Wittenberg rushing record, was back at it again Saturday, rambling for two first-half touchdowns and 106 yards in the game. He had plenty of help offensively again as senior quarterback Anthony Crane (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) threw for 220 yards — on just 11 completions, good for a 20-yard average — and two scores. His favorite target on this night was junior wide receiver Steve DeGraffinreed (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover), who set career highs in receptions (7) and yards (134). His biggest catch was a 69-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter that put the Tigers ahead 20-0.

Junior wide receiver Mike Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) also had a big night, grabbing three balls — including two circus catches in which he stole the ball from defenders — for 72 yards and a 35-yard touchdown.

Defensively, the Tigers again yielded few yards or points until the game was well in hand. Junior linebacker Dustin Goldsbury (Columbus, Ohio/Ready) had a team-high seven tackles, while senior linebacker Trevor Yost (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) had his first interception of the season that set up the Tigers' final score of the night.

Wittenberg improves to 2-0 with the victory heading into next week's re-match with Alma College at Edwards-Maurer Field in Springfield. The Tigers upended the Scots in a first-round playoff game in 1999 on the same field.

Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. In that game, Donaldson and senior kicker Ryan Walker (Newark, Ohio/Newark) will continue their assaults on the Wittenberg and North Coast Athletic Conference record books. Both are poised to break several records in the very near future.