SPRINGFIELD, Ohio The Wittenberg University Tigers overcame a stern challenge from the Aurora University Spartans in a first-round NCAA Division III tournament game today at Edwards-Maurer Field, rallying from an early deficit to advance with a 31-20 victory. The win marked the third straight year that the Tigers won a home first round game in the tourney, and it advanced the undefeated North Coast Athletic Conference champions to a second round match-up with Hanover (Ind.), which defeated Hope College, 20-3.
Aurora struck first in this one after a scoreless first quarter as Anthony Armstrong capped a seven-play, 79-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown burst. The score was set up on the first play of the drive as freshman quarterback Garrett Meyer hit wideout Tyson LeBlanc on a 50-yard pass down the sideline.
Wittenberg finally responded with just 1:33 left in the first half in the way it has fought back so many times through the last four years. Senior tailback Casey Donaldson (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) ran 21 yards around the right end, sprung by a brilliant block by senior fullback Gary Henson (Columbus, Ohio/Marion-Franklin), to tie the game.
In the second half, the Tigers finally broke out, again riding the strong legs of Donaldson. He caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Anthony Crane (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) with 3:55 left in the third quarter. Then he made a highlight reel touchdown run down the right side, scampering 47 yards and tiptoeing along the sideline to paydirt just 11 seconds into the fourth quarter.
The Spartans, champions of the Illini-Badger Conference, responded with a 10-yard touchdown hook-up between Meyer and LeBlanc less than two minutes later.
After the two teams traded punts, Wittenberg senior wide receiver Labon Storts (Columbus, Ohio/Westland) caught a pass from Crane and cut back to turn it into a dazzling 44-yard touchdown that gave the Tigers some needed breathing room. Senior placekicker Ryan Walker (Newark, Ohio/Newark) added a 21-yard field goal with three minutes left in the game.
Aurora wrapped up the scoring as Paulie Forsythe scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Meyer.
Donaldson wound up with 178 yards in the game, marking the fifth consecutive 100-yard rushing game for the Wittenberg career rushing leader. Henson chipped in with 68 yards on 14 carries and Crane finished with eight completions on 20 attempts. Defensively, junior linebacker Dustin Goldsbury (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready) topped the team with 11 tackles, including two for loss, and senior linebacker Trevor Yost (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster), who taked on 10 tackles and one sack.
Meyer completed 15 passes in 33 attempts for 188 yards, with six of those going to Forsythe for 73 yards. On the ground, Mylon Jones topped the Spartans with 60 yards on 10 carries. And defensively, Brandon Schweinler finished with 10 tackles, including four for loss, to lead the way.