Setting the Scene

The Wittenberg University Tigers, making their 10th appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs and 11th appearance overall in postseason action, take to the road again this week to square off with Thomas More College. The Tigers, the No. 5 seed in the North Region bracket, won a thriller in the first round of the playoffs last week, rallying four different times to tie host Hardin-Simmons University and finally win the game in overtime, 38-35.

The Tigers, ranked seventh in the last American Football Coaches Association regular season poll, finished the regular season 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the NCAC. Wittenberg, which will take a 29-game NCAC win streak into the 2002 campaign, won its record-setting fifth straight NCAC title and fourth consecutive outright crown in 2001. The perfect conference record capped an amazing career for this year's seniors, who became the first class in school or NCAC history to win every conference game in its four years. In addition, the Tiger seniors matched last year's graduating class with a 39-1 four-year regular season record and last week surpassed that group with 44 overall wins.

Thomas More, ranked No. 12 by the AFCA, finished its season a perfect 10-0 while playing an independent schedule and entered the North Region bracket as the No. 2 seed behind national No. 1 Mount Union College. The Saints outscored their opponents 389-133 during the regular season and then defeated MacMurray College in the first round last week by a final of 34-30, winning the game on a last-second touchdown pass.

Wittenberg In The Postseason

The NCAA Division III leader in all-time wins with 624 since its first year of football in 1892, the Wittenberg Tigers have won five national championships - 1962, '64, '69, '73 and '75. The last three were earned as a result of victories in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, and the last two were won as members of the newly created NCAA Division III. The titles in 1962, '64 and '69 were NCAA College Division championships.

The Tigers have also finished second in NCAA Division III twice, in 1978 and '79. Wittenberg's overall postseason record is 16-7, including last week's win over Hardin-Simmons, and the Tigers mark in NCAA Division III is 15-7. A rundown of postseason results:

College Division

1969 
AMOS ALONZO STAGG BOWL* (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 27, William Jewell 21
*West Regional playoff game. There was no national championship game at this time.

Division III

1973 
Semifinal (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 21, San Diego 14
AMOS ALONZO STAGG BOWL (at Phenix City, Ala.)
Wittenberg 41, Juniata 0
1975
Quarterfinal (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 17, Indiana Central 13
Semifinal (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 55, Millsaps 22
AMOS ALONZO STAGG BOWL (at Phenix City, Ala.)
Wittenberg 28, Ithaca 0
1978
Quarterfinal (at Ithaca, N.Y.)
Wittenberg 6, Ithaca 3
Semifinal (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 35, Minnesota-Morris 14
AMOS ALONZO STAGG BOWL (at Phenix City, Ala.)
Baldwin-Wallace 24, Wittenberg 10
1979
Quarterfinal (at Millersville, Pa.)
Wittenberg 21, Millersville 14
Semifinal (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 17, Widener 14
AMOS ALONZO STAGG BOWL (at Phenix City, Ala.)
Ithaca 14, Wittenberg 10
1988
First Round (at Dayton, Ohio)
Wittenberg 35, Dayton 28 (2OT)
Quarterfinal (at Springfield, Ohio)
Augustana 28, Wittenberg 14
1995
First Round (at Wheaton, Ill.)
Wheaton 63, Wittenberg 41
1998
First Round (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 13, Millikin 10
Regional Final (at Alliance, Ohio)
Mount Union 21, Wittenberg 19
1999
First Round (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 42, Alma 19
Second Round (at Springfield, Ohio)
Ohio Northern 58, Wittenberg 24
2000
First Round (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 31, Aurora 20
Second Round (at Springfield, Ohio)
Wittenberg 32, Hanover 21
Quarterfinal (at Alliance, Ohio)
Mount Union 32, Wittenberg 15
2001
First Round (at Abilene, Texas)
Wittenberg 38, Hardin-Simmons 35 (OT)
Second Round (at Crestview Hills, Ky.)
vs. Thomas More

Last Year's Playoffs:

Wittenberg advanced to the Big Dance a year ago, while Thomas More's program was snubbed by the selection committee despite a 9-1 record.

The Tigers were defeated in the national quarterfinals by eventual national champion Mount Union after defeating Aurora College and Hanover College in home games as the No. 2 seed in the North Region. Wittenberg took an early lead against Mount Union, scoring on an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Anthony Crane to wide receiver Michael Aljancic on the Tigers first offensive play from scrimmage. But the Raiders proved too tough on a icy-cold December day at home in Alliance, scoring the next 23 points and slowly pulling away for a 32-15 victory.

Among the Best

Wittenberg finished the 2001 season ranked first in the NCAC in scoring defense (11.0 ppg), pass defense (160.4 ypg), pass defense efficiency (101.6), total defense (249.9 ypg), kickoff returns (23.3 ypr), turnover margin (1.5), fewest opponent first downs (137) and fewest opponent fourth-down conversions (13.6 percent).

In the most recent NCAA Division III statistics, Wittenberg is among the top 30 in the nation in seven of the nine categories. The Tigers are 14th in turnover margin, tied for eighth in scoring defense, 14th in scoring offense (39.7 ppg), 17th in rushing defense (89.5 ypg), 19th in rushing offense (228.4),30th in total offense (421.4 ypg) and 20th in total defense.

Individually, only tailback Daniel Grove leads an NCAC statistical category, that being rushing touchdowns (17). Grove, with four straight 100-yard rushing games under his belt and two 200-yard games on the season, has moved to 18th nationally in rushing at 126.0 yards per game and into a tie for sixth in scoring at 12.0 points per game. In addition, quarterback Greg Cornett is 20th in pass efficiency at 150.8.

Among the Best - Part 2

Wittenbergs win over Denison in which the Tigers put up 72 points was the fourth-best scoring total in the nation this season. In addition, the 59-7 win over Heidelberg in Week 2 is tied for 29th most points in a game.

Tailback Daniel Groves 259-yard rushing day against Ohio Wesleyan was the fifth-best total of the season in Division III. The top rushing total of the season was 315 yards by Dave Burrill of Maine Maritime.

Scouting the Tigers

Wittenberg finished the 2001 regular season 9-1, ranked No. 7 in the nation, and in its customary position atop the NCAC with a perfect 7-0 record. The Tigers lone defeat came on Sept. 15 at Alma, 26-24, a loss that snapped a school-record 33-game regular season win streak. The Tigers outscored their regular season opponents 39.7-11.0 and outgained their foes by a whopping 421.4-249.9. Only Alma scored more than 20 points against Wittenberg, and only Wabash held the Tigers below 20 points in a game.

Last week, the Tigers played what was undoubtedly their finest game of the 2001 season. In defeating Hardin-Simmons in the first round of the playoffs, Wittenberg incurred just three penalties, committed no turnovers, moved the ball consistently with several long drives that brilliantly mixed the run and pass, and came up with just enough defensive stops against the nations No. 1 rated quarterback, regardless of division. The Tigers did give up two long punt returns and had problems with their kickoff returns on the sloppy field, but overall the game was a gem.

Tailback Daniel Grove leads the team with 1430 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns (22 rushing) after four straight 100-yard games to close the season and a tremendous 32-carry, 170-yard outing against HSU. Wide receiver Michael Aljancic has been sensational with a school-record 54 catches for 713 yards and nine touchdowns (eight receiving) during the regular season, including the biggest play of the year, the game-winner with 16 seconds left against Allegheny. Aljancic topped himself last week with 10 receptions for 214 yards and two dramatic fourth quarter touchdowns. Quarterback Greg Cornett has played well in his first season under center, completing 140 of 229 passes for 1872 yards and 17 touchdowns during the regular season, and then adding a career-high 313 yards passing last week on just 18 completions. His efficiency rating of 150.8 rose almost all season, ranking first in the NCAC and 20th in the nation.

Defense, expected to be a strength for the Tigers in 2001 after they led the NCAC in total defense for the eighth time in nine years in 2000, rose to the challenge after a disastrous 23-point first half against pass-happy Alma. Safety John Hauser and outside linebacker Nic Black lead the Tigers with 54.0 tackles. Defensive end Tim Daoust tops the squad in sacks with eight. Defensive tackle Juan Howard is among the best in the nation with 20 tackles for a staggering loss of 82 yards. Hauser leads the team with four interceptions, while senior cornerback Jason Jackson tops all defensive backs with 13 passes defensed, including four against HSU.

Scouting the Saints

Thomas More is outscoring its opponents by nearly 34 points per game in 2001, and the Saints are accomplishing things in a very similar fashion to Wittenberg.

Wittenberg is a ground-oriented team that has repeatedly shown the ability to move the ball through the air this year. Thomas More, under the direction of third-year head coach Dean Paul (career record: 27-4), averages 292.9 yards rushing per game on 53 carries per game. Combined with a passing attack that has been efficient, averaging 136.5 yards per game on 103 completions, the Saints have 57 touchdowns this season to their opponents 22.

Thomas More gets it going on offense with a pair of talented running backs, Curtis Williams and Justin Frisk. Stepping in for departed All-American Will Castleberry, Williams has 1084 yards and 15 touchdowns on 185 carries, while Frisk has posted 1037 yards and 17 TDs on just 162 carries in 10 games. Add in a mobile quarterback in Jesse Lowery who has carted the ball for 470 yards and seven rushing scores this season, and what you have is a potent run game.

Lowery is completing 56 percent of his passes in 2001, compiling 1380 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air. He has three receivers with double-digit receptions - Chris Trump (18), Frisk (16) and Ryan Woodie (16). Two other players have nine catches and another has eight, showing great balance.

The strength of the Saints defense is right up the middle, beginning with linebacker Nick Rice, who has 61 unassisted tackles and 107 overall stops on the season. He also leads the team in tackles for loss with 16 for 53 yards and sacks with six for a loss of 41 yards. Outside linebacker Steve Smith checks in with 78 tackles, including 15 for 56 yards lost, and free safety Eric Fette is next with 51 unassisted stops and 74 total. He also has a team-best four interceptions.

The Wittenberg/Thomas More Series

For the second straight week, there is no such thing. Despite the relative proximity of the two schools - being barely 80 miles apart - the Tigers and Saints have never hooked up on the gridiron. The two schools have, however, met frequently in men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball, to name a few other sports.

The two teams will also hook up on the football field the next two seasons as the Saints have signed on to become one of the Tigers three non-conference games for 2002 and 2003.

Moving Up the Charts

Tailback Daniel Grove finished the season with 1,260 yards rushing, the eighth-best total in school history. In addition, Grove scored 21 touchdowns on the season, just one score short of Casey Donaldson's record-setting TD total of a year ago. For his career, Grove has 1,932 rushing yards.

Grove, who has felt the long shadow of Donaldson all season, rose to the occasion in the playoffs last week, just as his predecessor always did. Donaldson recorded 1000 yards in seven playoff games, and Grove went for 170 on 32 workmanlike carries last week. He also added 51 yards on three receptions out of the backfield, and he scored three touchdowns.

Defensive Record

Senior defensive end Tim Daoust had a half sack against Earlham in the season finale to up his 2001 total to eight and his career total to 27.5, tied for second-most in Wittenberg history. The record is 28 by Tim Altman, who played from 1992-95.

Defensive Record

The Wittenberg defense held Hiram to just one completion for a six-yard loss in the entire game. Wittenberg had held six opponents over the years to zero yards passing, but it had never held one with negative yardage in that category. The negative six yards passing tied an NCAA Division III record set by Central (Iowa) against Simpson in 1985.

Streaks

The loss at Alma on Sept. 15 snapped Wittenbergs school-record regular season win streak at 33, dating back to Nov. 4, 1997 against the College of Wooster.

Wittenberg still has several streaks intact, however. The Tigers extended their regular season home win streak to 34 games with a perfect 5-0 mark this season. That streak dates back to the second game of the 1996 season against Allegheny. The Tigers have also reeled off 29 straight NCAC victories dating back to the 1997 loss at Wooster.

Finally, Wittenberg has gone 10 years since losing back-to-back games. In 1991, Case Western Reserve and Allegheny both claimed wins over the Tigers. At the end of the '91 season, Ohio Wesleyan defeated Wittenberg, and then the Tigers were beaten in the '92 opener by Baldwin-Wallace before they reeled off eight wins and a tie to close the season. Since the loss to B-W, Wittenberg has played 107 games without losing two straight (not including a forfeit win over Oberlin in 1992). The Tigers record during that time is 96-10-1.

Streaks - Part 2

The win over Hardin-Simmons last week kept alive an impressive four-year run of first round playoff success. The Tigers have not lost in the first round under head coach Joe Fincham, defeating Millikin in 1998 at home, defeating Alma in 1999 at home, beating Aurora in 2000 at home and then going on the road last week to stun the No. 3 seeded Cowboys of Hardin-Simmons to open the 2001 tourney.

On Target

In his first season under center, junior quarterback Greg Cornett has done quite well, guiding a relatively young offense and finishing first in the NCAC and 20th in the nation with a pass efficiency rating of 150.8. Perhaps most important, Cornett threw just four interceptions in the 2001 regular season and none since the first quarter of the win over Denison in Week 5. He extended his streak of quarters without a pick to 23 in the win over HSU, 24 if you include three offensive plays in overtime. For the season, Cornett now has 2187 yards passing, 158 completions, a 61.2 percent completion percentage and 20 touchdowns. The school records (based on regular season performance only) are 2,181 yards, 141 completions, 63 percent completions and 24 TDs.

On Top At Last

Senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic finished his career as the greatest pass catcher in Wittenberg school history, at least according to the numbers. Aljancic established a school record for receptions in a season with 54 in 2001 and 147 in a career. He was amazingly consistent, catching at least one pass in 35 of his 40 career regular season games.

In the playoff victory over Hardin-Simmons, Aljancic may have topped himself. Reminiscent of the way he and quarterback Greg Cornett teamed up to rescue the Tigers season in Week 5 against Allegheny, Aljancic turned in a 10-catch, 214-yard performance in the first round of the playoffs. Both of touchdown receptions came in the fourth quarter with the Tigers down by a score each time, the final one coming with just 23 seconds remaining.

Coach of the Year

Joe Fincham is now 62-6 in his career. Perhaps even more impressive, Fincham is 57-3 in regular season games, 42-2 against NCAC foes and 5-3 in NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Last year, he became the first Wittenberg coach to earn conference coach of the year honors three straight years. Dave Maurer won the award in the Ohio Athletic Conference three times in four years (1976, 1978, 1979) and Bill Edwards coached at a time when such awards were not given. Maurer and Edwards both also won national coach of the year on two occasions.