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Mike Freeman

The Wittenberg football team slugged it out with North Coast Athletic Conference rival Wooster in the 2003 season finale at Edwards-Maurer Field on Saturday and came out with a hard-fought 35-31 win. The win gave Wittenberg a season-ending 8-2 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the NCAC, which is good for a second-place tie with Oberlin and Wabash.

The Tigers got 48 yards on 15 carries from freshman tailbackJoe Brumfield (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge) and 47 yards on 15 carries from freshman fullback Tyler Harmon (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) to lead the rushing attack in the absence of leading rusher Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida), who had 18 yards on five carries in the first quarter before departing the game with an injury. Brumfield and Harmon both scored touchdowns in the first half as Wittenberg ran out to a seemingly comfortable 20-0 lead.

Sandwiched in between their scores was a 12-yard scoring reception by senior wide receiver Skip Ivery (Columbus, Ohio/Groveport-Madison), who finished with 48 yards on five catches. Sophomore wide receiver Jered Glover (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown) added seven catches for 85 yards and a 30-yard scoring reception in the third quarter that provided what turned out to be the winning points. Harmon also had two catches for 22 yards as junior quarterback Ryan Holmes (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda) finished the day 16-of-31 passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Wittenberg "held" Sutton in check for the most part, allowing him just one run over 20 yards. The Tigers recorded four sacks, including a key one on fourth down in the fourth quarter by sophomore Clinton Tiggs (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) and intercepted four passes - two each by sophomores Brandon Slade (Louisville, Colo./Monarch) and Mike Freeman (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne). The last one was a terrific juggling pick along the sidelines that Freeman took to the house in the third quarter.

Senior linebacker Gary George (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian) recorded 17 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, to lead the Tiger defense, while freshman safetyMitch Fonseca (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus) added 14 tackles and freshman linebacker Devon Combs (Columbus, Ohio/South) finished with 10. Freeman had eight tackles, the aforementioned two interceptions and two passes defensed.

The Tigers did not advance to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time in six years, but they did have a tremendous "rebuilding" year. Wittenberg finished a perfect 6-0 at home and 2-2 on four long road trips out of state. The team loses just two starters on defense, record-setting kicker Conrad Hindert (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mariemont) and four offensive starters for the 2004 season. Many freshmen and sophomores received substantial playing time in 2003.