Wittenberg Pounds Wooster, 45-0, On Senior Recognition Day

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — One of the largest senior classes in Wittenberg football history, numbering 29 players, celebrated in style Saturday with a surprisingly lop-sided 45-0 victory over Wooster.

The Tigers won for the fifth time in the last six games and improved to 5-4 overall, including a mark of 5-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Wooster, the defending NCAC champion, dropped to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the NCAC.

The amazing tale of two seasons continued for Wittenberg, with the numbers becoming more stark as each week's game plays out. Wittenberg allowed 133 points in its first three games and has yielded 159 in its four losses, all to high-scoring teams in contention for conference championships as the 2005 season winds to a close. In its five wins, the Tigers have not allowed an opponent to reach double figures in scoring and has posted three shutouts.

The latest may not have been the most thorough, but it was impressive nonetheless. Wooster came into the game ranked third in the NCAC at 29.4 points per game and second in the conference in total offense at 409.0 per outing, but Wittenberg limited the Scots to zero points and a paltry 149 yards of total offense. A year after posting 64 points on Wittenberg in a dramatic overtime win on their home field, the Scots were forced into 11 punts and committed three turnovers. Wooster never even reached the red zone, with the best Scots drive coming up short at the Wittenberg 34-yard-line late in the fourth quarter.

Offensively, Wittenberg made some big plays and capitalized on good field position to roll up some impressive numbers. Junior quarterback Geron Stokes improved to 4-0 as a starter in the Red & White, completing 17 of 26 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown, a nine-yard strike to senior tight end Nate Cherry that capped a three-play, 80-yard drive and put Wittenberg ahead 21-0 late in the first quarter. Stokes also ran for 49 yards and the game's first touchdown on 11 carries before enjoying the fourth quarter from the bench.

Senior tailback Tristan Murray was up to his usual tricks, picking up 174 yards on 17 carries in the game before departing after a 35-yard run that set up a one-yard touchdown burst by sophomore fullback Andy Vanover with 11:47 left in the third quarter. Murray scored a second-quarter touchdown as well, but he was banged up at the end of a long run and turned things over to sophomore tailback Derrick Braziel, who gained 48 yards on nine carries, including the final score of the game on a 19-yard jaunt around left end. For the game, Wittenberg racked up 301 yards rushing.

Rounding out the offensive production, sophomore kicker Mark Porter had a career-long 43-yard field goal into a stiff wind in the third quarter. He just missed a 42-yard effort wide left in the fourth quarter, but he was perfect in his five extra points on the day.

Wooster could get nothing going offensively as freshman tailback Dustin Sheppard led the Scots with 55 yards on 17 carries. He also had three punts for a 37.3 yard average after starting punter Andrew Branch was injured. The Tigers harassed Wooster's punt unit all day, forcing a muff on one play in the second quarter that led to Murray's touchdown and then getting a block by junior wide receiver Ryan McCoart that set up Braziel's score.

Defensively, Wittenberg spread the wealth as junior linebacker Tyler Harmon finished with a game-high 10 tackles, including one for a three-year loss. Senior linebacker Ken Bibb continued to enjoy a breakout finale to his career, making the most of his third start by recording seven tackles, forcing a fumble that junior safety Mitch Fonseca returned 36 yards for the game's second score and also intercepting a pass. The Tigers recorded a season-high six sacks, led by senior defensive tackle Tyler Jenkins with two for 13 yards in cumulative losses.

Wittenberg can wrap up at least a share of second place in the NCAC with a win at Allegheny next week after Wabash capped a perfect run through the conference with a 52-0 whipping of Denison today. The Tigers are also hoping to secure a sixth win and the program's 49th winning season in the last 51 years.