Wittenberg Defeats Wabash in Key NCAC Match-Up

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - In a game of many twists and turns, momentum changes and big plays on both sides, the game-changing play of a 49-35 victory for the Wittenberg Tigers over the Wabash Little Giants Saturday at Edwards-Maurer Field was, of all things, a punt.

But this wasn't just any punt. With Wittenberg clinging to a 41-35 lead and pinned deep in its own end after a Wabash sack with 2:45 showing on the fourth quarter clock, senior Jacob Thomas booted the ball nearly 60 yards in the air, and upon hitting the wet turf it started skipping toward the Wabash end zone with Little Giants return man Ray Green and several Tigers in hot pursuit. Green was unable to control the ball as it continued to wobble deep into Wabash territory and sophomore Joe Brumfield pounced on it for the Tigers, giving them possession, 73 yards later, on the Little Giant five-yard-line.

It took junior tailback Tristan Murray two plays to cover the final five yards and put the game out of reach once and for all. It capped a day in which Murray rushed for a career-high 218 yards on 28 carries and caught four passes for 16 yards, in the process finding the end zone four times.

With the win, Wittenberg, ranked 23rd in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll, kept pace with the College of Wooster at 4-0 atop the North Coast Athletic Conference and improved to 6-1 overall. Wabash, ranked 24th by the AFCA, lost for the second straight time to fall to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the NCAC. The win was Wittenberg's first in the last four meetings with the Little Giants, dating back to a 2001 win at Edwards-Maurer Field. Since then, the two teams had met three times in the last two seasons with the Little Giants coming out on top each time, including a 46-43 overtime victory that spoiled Wittenberg's 2002 Homecoming Weekend.

This Homecoming turned out much better for the Tigers, although many in the crowd of more than 3,400 that endured the rainy fall afternoon unexpectedly wound up on the edge of their seats. After giving up a nine-yard touchdown run to Wabash's Aaron Lafitte on the Little Giants' first drive, the Tigers played solid defense throughout the first half and continually put Wittenberg's potent offense in position to score. And score the Tigers did, piling up 31 points before halftime, thanks to one touchdown running and another receiving for Murray, a 12-yard TD reception by junior wide receiver Jered Glover, an eight-yard scoring pass play to senior wideout Joe Rumschlag and a 38-yard field goal by freshman kicker Mark Porter with just three ticks left on the clock.

Wabash battled back in the second half, much like the Little Giants did the previous week in a 33-30 home loss to Wooster in which they trailed 33-9 at halftime. This time, wide receiver Brandon Clifton scored on a 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russ Harbaugh, Kyle Piazza checked in with a four-yard touchdown reception and Lafitte scored for the second time in the game, all in a third quarter that also included Murray's third TD, this time on a 17-yard run. In the fourth quarter, Porter started the scoring with a 27-yard field goal before Wabash's Brandon Roop scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass play from Harbaugh. That led up to the game's final sequence and the aforementioned game-altering punt and subsequent fumble recovery.

The team statistics were remarkably even, with Wabash gaining 25 first downs to 23 for Wittenberg and the Little Giants outgaining the Tigers by three yards, 452-449. Both teams were perfect in a combined total of 11 trips into the red zone, but the difference wound up being three Wabash turnovers to two for the Tigers. All five led directly to points for the other team.

Individually, Wittenberg got a solid game from senior quarterback Ryan Holmes as he went 22-of-35 for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Glover finished with six catches for 42 yards before leaving the game with an injury in the third quarter. Six Tiger players caught at least two passes in the game, including Rumschlag, who hauled in five tosses for a team-high 48 yards. Freshman cornerback Alan Tracewell was simply outstanding, contributing a game-high 10 solo tackles and 13 total tackles and he also was credited with two passes broken up. Junior cornerback Lavon Wilborn added nine total tackles and a first-half interception he returned 40 yards to set up a touchdown. The Tigers, who had just six sacks on the entire season, doubled their output with six on Saturday, led by junior linebacker Anthoni Fazio with 1.5 for a loss of five yards.

Wabash got 63 yards rushing from Lafitte on 11 carries and 128 yards receiving on nine catches from Clifton, who showed few ill effects from an ankle injury. Harbaugh finished with 344 yards on 24-of-37 passing. Defensively, the Little Giants were paced by Tim Parker, who had a game-high 15 tackles, and Adrian Pynenberg, who had nine tackles, including three for a total loss of 11 yards, a forced fumble and an interception that he returned 38 yards to set up a touchdown.

The Tigers get back into action next Saturday at Ohio Wesleyan, which stands just one game back in the conference standings after a 30-24 win over Kenyon today.