Posted: Nov 16, 2002
Setting the Scene:
The Wittenberg University Tigers and the College of Wooster Fighting Scots will lay their respective seasons on the line this weekend at John P. Papp Stadium in Wooster, Ohio. Both teams are 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, tied for second place behind newly crowned champion, Wabash. While neither team can gain even a share of the conference title, they both have a tremendous amount to play for.The Tigers and Scots are among the top contenders for three precious Pool C bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The winner of this game could be in line to pick up one of those bids, depending upon the outcome of about a half-dozen other games around the country this weekend. Among the schools in competition with the North Coast runner-up will be Howard Payne, John Carroll, Muhlenberg, Widener, Wartburg or the runner-up in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the runner-up in the Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Wittenberg has been on a rampage since an Oct. 12 overtime loss to Wabash, outscoring its last four opponents 263-20, including Kenyon last week, 79-0. The Tigers need just a field goal to break the school record for points in a season, and the offense should get an added boost when senior tailback Daniel Grove returns to the lineup after missing the last four games with a broken foot. Grove suffered the injury against Wabash after scoring 15 touchdowns and averaging nearly 150 yards per game rushing in the first five games of the season.
Wooster has been the surprise team of the NCAC in 2002, rising from a preseason prediction of fifth place to its current second-place tie with Wittenberg. The Scots have done it primarily on the ground as sophomore transfer tailback Tony Sutton leads the nation in rushing with an average of 173.4 per game. His status for this week's game is questionable after he suffered a knee injury two weeks against Wabash in the Scots' lone defeat of the season. Quarterback Jeff Spraggins and tailback Scott Jones have proven to be capable as well on offense, while the defense is spearheaded by sophomore linebacker Tim Cline and senior defensive back Nick Hajjar, both of whom are among the best in the conference at their respective positions.
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Skipping Ahead:
Junior wide receiver Skip Ivery is also working his way into the Wittenberg record books. The NCAC leader in receiving yards per game, Ivery has grabbed 40 passes this year, the seventh-best single season total in Wittenberg history. The season record is 54, set a year ago by Michael Aljancic.For his career, Ivery is now No. 10 all-time in receptions with 78. That record is also held by Aljancic, who hauled in 147 between 1998 and 2001.
Over the last four years, the Tigers have a regular season record of 36-2 and an overall record of 41-5, including a mark of 5-3 in the NCAA Division III playoffs and a 25-1 record in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Wittenberg has won three NCAC titles and made the NCAA Elite Eight each of the last two years, falling to eventual national champion Mount Union in each case.
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QB Makes His Move:
Senior quarterback Greg Cornett has put up even bigger numbers in 2002 than he did in his first season as the starter under center. Through nine games, Cornett has 129 completions in 200 attempts for 1,866 yards and 16 touchdowns, keeping him on pace to eclipse school records for completions in a season (141 by Tim Green in 1987) and passing yards (2,181 by Charlie Green in 1964). Cornett is averaging 14.3 completions, 22.2 attempts and 207.3 yards per game.Cornett's 2001 numbers rank second-best in school history in all three categories for a season. His 2002 numbers, evne though he went just 5-of-8 for 52 yards and one touchdown in less than one half of action against Kenyon, currently place him fourth in passing yards with 1,866 yards, just three short of the third-place total that Shaun Brown posted in 1997.
For his career, Cornett has 3,736 passing yards, 269 completions and 429 attempts, ranking him fifth, fifth and sixth on the respective school record lists. Charlie Green, who recently was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., leads in all three with 5,575 yards, 555 attempts and 325 completions.
For his career, Cornett has 3,684 passing yards, 264 completions and 421 attempts, ranking him fifth, fifth and sixth on the respective school record lists. Charlie Green, who recently was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., leads in all three with 5,575 yards, 555 attempts and 325 completions. It's unlikely Cornett will catch any of those records, but he will almost certainly move into the top four in each.
Next up on the career passing list for Cornett is No. 4 Gene Laughman, who threw for 3,878 yards in 26 games between 1964 and 1967.
Cornett Part II:
As if that wasn't enough about Cornett, there are some other records he is approaching. As he continues to shred opposing defenses, Cornett's efficiency rating has climbed to 164.27 and his completion percentage has crept up to a school-record 64.5. The conference record for efficiency is 176.0 by Allegheny's Kyle Adamson in 1996 and the mark for completion percentage is 67.9, also by Adamson, in 1995.No school record is officially kept for pass efficiency. For completion percentage, no quarterback has ever finished his career above 60 percent. Cornett is currently at 62.7 percent. For a season, the Wittenberg record is Green's at 62.6, and Cornett is on pace there as well with a mark of 64.5 to date.
Record-Setting Pace:
Tiger gridiron fans are used to lots of points, but the 2002 edition is wearing out even the well-worn Edwards-Maurer Field scoreboard. Wittenberg has scored at least 31 points in every game this year and is averaging 52.3 per game, tops in the nation. In NCAC action, the Tigers have been even more prolific, posting scoring totals of 53, 43, 77, 58, 49 and 79 points.The starting offensive unit has scored touchdowns on more than 59 percent of its drives (49 of 83). Including drives that have ended in field goals, the starting offense has successfully converted possessions into points 65 percent of the time. Since the start of the second half against Wabash, the Tiger offense has scored touchdowns on 29 of 38 drives (76 percent) and points - including two field goals - on 31 of 38 of its drives (82 percent).
Not only are numerous school records in jeopardy with this record-setting offensive barrage, but the NCAC record book is under assault as well. Wittenberg holds the record for points (473) and points after touchdowns (56) in 1997 and 1995 respectively, and this year's squad is approaching both. The team is currently at 471 points and 55 PATs in 2002.
Tigers on the Radio:
Wittenberg is blessed with outstanding radio coverage again in 2002, as Marty Bannister heads things up for a 10th straight year. He can be found on the radio dial in the same location, 1600 AM, but with new call letters. Formerly WBLY, the radio home for the Tigers is now WULM.Bannister is joined in the booth by former Tiger All-American offensive lineman Xan Smith, who provides color commentary, while Scott Leo patrols the sidelines to provide insight and commentary for a third consecutive season.
All season long, WULM hosts weekly radio shows that focus on local sports and even Wittenberg athletic teams specifically. On Thursdays, following a high school football show, Bannister hosts Tiger Talk, which includes interviews and analysis with Wittenberg Head Coach Joe Fincham and his players and assistant coaches.
The Rankings:
Wittenberg opened the 2002 season at No. 4 in the first American Football Coaches Association poll, released on Sept. 17. The Tigers remained in that position until falling to the 16th following the loss to Wabash. Wittenberg is back to 11th in the nation in that poll, while Don Hansen's National Football Gazette ranks the Tigers No. 12 currently.Prior to the season, Wittenberg was ranked No. 7 in three preseason polls (Street & Smith's, Lindy's and Don Hansen's National Football Gazette) and No. 5 by d3football.com. The Tigers finished the 2001 season ranked No. 6 in the AFCA poll and No. 7 in Don Hansen's.
Series History:
This is the 36th meeting between Wittenberg and Wooster, long-time rivals from the Ohio Athletic Conference. The rivalry dates all the way back to 1912.The all-time series stands at 25-10-1 in favor of Wittenberg, but it has been much more lop-sided since 1956. Wooster nine of the first 11 meetings between the two schools through 1949 before the Tigers began to dominate. Wittenberg reeled off 20 straight wins against the Scots between 1956 and 1997, when Wooster spoiled the Tigers' perfect season with a 21-19 win in the second-to-last game. Since then, however, Wittenberg has won four straight, including last year's 47-13 victory.
Around the NCAC Today:
Week 11 of the 2002 season features four NCAC games, all slated for 1 p.m., and one non-conference game, also on for 1 p.m. Allegheny is at Ohio Wesleyan, Denison is at Oberlin, Hiram is at Earlham and Wittenberg plays at Wooster. Wabash and DePauw are meeting in the lone non-conference game, the 109th edition of the Monon Bell Classic.
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Last Year's Game (Oct. 13, 2002):
In perhaps their best performance of the 2001 season, the Tigers pounced on Wooster at John P. Papp Stadium in Wooster. The Tigers scored the game's first 34 points and cruised to an impressive 47-13 victory.Tailback Daniel Grove had a huge rushing day with 161 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Wittenberg had 331 yards rushing compared to 81 yards for Wooster. Through the air, the Tigers were efficient once again behind quarterback Greg Cornett's 10-of-16 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Wittenberg held the Scots to 255 yards of total offense, led by linebacker Ryan Gresham's six tackles, including two for a loss of 10 yards.
Conference Statistics:
As a team, Wittenberg leads the NCAC in scoring offense (52.3 ppg), scoring defense (10.7 ppg), pass efficiency defense (79.7 rating), total offense (473.8 ypg), total defense (224.7 ypg), punting (34.5 ypp), pass efficiency (158.6) and punt returns (13.0 ypg). The Tigers rank second in passing offense (231.0 ypg), rushing offense (242.8) and rushing defense (89.6 ypg).Individually, wide receiver Skip Ivery leads the conference in receiving yards per game (84.2), freshman defensive back Mike Freeman is tops in punt returns at a 21.2 yard average, tailback Daniel Grove leads in scoring (18.4 ppg) and sophomore kicker Jacob Thomas is tied for first in points by kicking with 6.0 per game. Quarterback Greg Cornett ranks second in passing yards per game (226.8) and total offense (226.9). Grove is second in rushing yards per game (143.6) and all-purpose yards per game (160.8).
National Statistics:
Wittenberg ranks No. 6 in total offense (473.8 ypg), No. 11 in total defense (224.7 ypg), No. 13 in rushing offense (242.8 ypg), No. 23 in rushing defense (89.6 ypg), No. 7 in pass efficiency defense (79.7 rating), No. 8 in scoring defense (10.7 ppg) and No. 1 in scoring offense (52.3 ppg).Individually, Daniel Grove no longer is included in the national rankings because he has missed the last four games. His rushing average of 143.6 yards per game still ranks among the best in the nation and he would still rank No. 1 in scoring at 18.4 points per game. Mike Freeman would rank first in punt returns (21.2 ypg) if he hadn't missed the last three games with a knee injury. Greg Cornett stands at No. 6 on the pass efficiency list (164.5 rating).
Record Pace:
Wittenberg is averaging 52.3 points per game through nine games of the 2002 season, and the Tigers are all but guaranteed to obliterate the school record for points in a season. The current record is 473 set in 1997, and this year's team is just a field goal away from breaking that mark heading into its regular season finale.Fast Starts:
Wittenberg has jumped on its opponents early in games, outscoring opponents 137-6 in the first quarter. The Tigers have not given up a first-quarter touchdown and have outscored opponents by a whopping 473-96 margin overall.
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Daniel Grove
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Up The Charts:
Senior tailback Daniel Grove rambled for 717 yards on 95 carries in the first five games of the season before suffering a broken foot against Wabash. Grove's 1,260 yards rushing last year ranks eighth in Wittenberg history for rushing yards in a season and moved his career totals to 1,942 yards on 329 carries. In combination with his performance in 2002, Grove has moved to No. 8 in school history in rushing yards with 2,663.His average yards per carry of 6.3 is a school record, and he has also moved to No. 2 all-time in scoring with 46 touchdowns and two-point conversion for 278 career points. He is expected to play against Wooster.
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Joe Fincham
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The Coaches:
Wittenberg is led by Joe Fincham, a 1988 graduate of Ohio University. Entering his seventh season at the helm, Fincham has a 71-8 overall record, including a mark of 47-3 in the NCAC and a regular season record of 65-4. His teams have claimed the last five conference titles, including four straight outright with undefeated records. Fincham, who ranks second in winning percentage in NCAA Division III history among coaches with five or more seasons, has been named NCAC Coach of the Year each of the last four seasons.Wooster is led by Mike Schmitz, who is in his eighth year at Wooster and his third as head coach. As a head coach, he has an 18-11 record. He was previously the team's offensive coordinator for five seasons. Prior to that he coached at four different high schools and put together a cumulative record of 93-57-1.