Last Second Field Goal Lifts Tigers Past Wabash

Last Second Field Goal Lifts Tigers Past Wabash

Zack Harris

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — Redemption, in many different ways for many different individuals, was Wittenberg's after senior kicker Zack Harris (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder), on the field only because his 2008 season was ended prematurely due to injury, banged home a game-winning 31-yard field goal with one second left on the clock to secure a heart-stopping 10-7 victory over 10th-ranked Wabash.

The win for the Tigers, ranked No. 22 in the latest American Football Coaches Association poll, was Wittenberg's first at Wabash in nine years, covering four previous trips to Little Giant Stadium. It was just the third win for the Tigers in the last nine games against Wabash, which has won at least a share of four straight North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championships, including last year, when the Little Giants escaped Springfield with a win on a last second field goal of their own en route to a perfect 7-0 conference mark.

The win moved Wittenberg to 6-0 on the 2009 season, including a mark of 4-0 in the NCAC. It is Wittenberg's first season-opening six-game win streak since 2000, coincidentally the last time the Tigers pulled off a win on Wabash's home field. The Little Giants, who played without quarterback Matt Hudson, the 2008 NCAC Offensive Player of the Year, dropped to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

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The game-ending field goal was especially sweet for Harris, who had missed a 27-yard attempt early in the second quarter, although video replays appeared to show the ball just inside the upright. Wabash also missed a first-half field goal attempt, although that miss by Spencer Whitehead, who ended the 2008 meeting between the two teams with a game-winning 41-yard field goal as time expired, was from 47 yards.

Wittenberg's defense was sparked by sophomore linebacker Zach Hurtt (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) and his 12 tackles, including three for loss, and junior linebacker Brad McKinley (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), who added eight total stops, including two for loss. Ranked No. 1 in all of NCAA Division III coming into the game, the Tiger defense allowed just 29 yards on 28 official rushing attempts and 223 total yards to a team ranked among the best in the division in scoring and total offense.

The unit additionally forced three turnovers - a fumble recovery by junior linebacker Ben Maxwell (Kettering, Ohio/Alter) and interceptions by sophomore safety Seth Parker (DeGraff, Ohio/Riverside) and senior cornerback Brandyn Brown (Louisville, Ky./Male). However, Wittenberg committed an uncharacteristic four turnovers - all on interceptions thrown by senior quarterback Aaron Huffman (Newark, Ohio/Newark) to Wabash defensive back Adrian Frederick, who tied a Wabash record.

Neither team managed to dent the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. The first breakthrough came with 10:47 remaining in the game, as sophomore wide receiver Michael Cooper (Springfield, Ohio/South) hauled in a 21-yard strike from Huffman. After the teams traded possessions, the Little Giants finally put something together, marching 72 yards in nine plays, capped by a Josh Miracle to Kody LeMond touchdown pass with 1:57 left.

The stage was set for Harris' heroics by Brown, who returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards to the Wabash 35-yard line. The Tigers, however, were forced into a fourth-and-six situation before Huffman hit sophomore wide receiver Josh McKee (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) on a 14-yard gain and a key first down. After a short run by Huffman, Harris split the uprights to account for the final margin.

Huffman finished 22-of-38 through the air for 168 yards. McKee was his favorite target, as he contributed eight receptions for 52 yards. On the ground, junior tailback Corey Weber (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) led both teams with 87 hard-earned yards on 19 carries. Huffman added 78 yards on 13 carries.

Wittenberg rounds out the non-conference portion of the 2009 schedule with a Homecoming game against Carnegie Mellon at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. After that, the Tigers finish out with a challenging row of NCAC opponents - at Denison and home to Allegheny and Wooster.

Written by: Ryan Maurer

Photos by: Brad Tucker