Round Up: Tigers Defeat Urbana on the Road, 37-10
The Tiger football team took care of business last Saturday night at Urbana, rallying from a slow start to defeat the host Blue Knights 37-10.
The Tiger football team took care of business last Saturday night at Urbana, rallying from a slow start to defeat the host Blue Knights 37-10. It was the third straight year that Wittenberg had met its neighboring educational institution on the gridiron and the third straight year that the Tigers came away with a decisive victory.
In the first American Football Coaches Association poll released today, the Tigers were ranked No. 4 in the nation. Last year, Wittenberg finished the year ranked No. 7.
Urbana had the ball for the first eight minutes of the game, and the long drive led to a 20- yard field goal and the first lead the Blue Knights have ever held against Wittenberg. It didn't last long, however, as senior tailback Daniel Grove (Urichsville, Ohio/Claymont) went to work immediately, buidling on his four-touchdown performance against Albion in the season opener to score on a 22-yard sprint. Grove went on to top the 100-yard mark in rushing for a sixth straight time in the regular season and ninth consecutive time including playoffs, both Wittenberg records.
Grove added another six points two minutes into the second quarter and senior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) hooked up with sophomore fullback Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida) for a eight-yard score a few minutes later to build the lead to 21-3. The defense came up with the game's biggest play after Urbana had drawn to 21-10. Senior defensive end Allen D'Andrea (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) pressured the Urbana quarterback and forced an errant pass that fell into the waiting arms of senior safety Andy Waddle (Enon, Ohio/Greenon), who was stopped one yard short of the promised land. Hampshire got his second score of the game on the next playwith a short plunge over the line.
Sophomore Jacob Thomas (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) added a field goal and Grove added to his phenomenal early-season scoring barrage with a 67-yard dash.
A rare in-season off week approaches this Saturday and one final non-conference game awaits on September 28 at Thomas More. Last year, Wittenberg traveled to Kentucky and defeated the Saints 41-0 in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. NCAC action opens on October 5 against Denison on Parents Weekend in Springfield.