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Ryan Holmes

The Wittenberg football team is off to an uncharacteristic 1-1 start to the 2004 season, but all is hardly lost. In fact, the Tigers may have some momentum after a dramatic come-from-behind over Thomas More last Saturday that spared the program its first 0-2 start in 51 years.

On Community Night at Edwards-Maurer Field, Wittenberg rallied from the brink to defeat the visiting Saints, 35-31. After 17 unanswered Thomas More points in the third and fourth quarters, Wittenberg responded at gut-check time. First, junior tailback Tristan Murray (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) took a swing pass 63 yards for a touchdown with 7:43 left in the fourth quarter to bring Wittenberg to within three points. Then, senior quarterback Ryan Holmes (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda) led the Tigers on a victory march, directing a game-winning 87-yard, 13-play drive that culminated in a four-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Eric Kubilus (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) with just 33.6 seconds showing on the clock.

Holmes came up big, finishing 19 of 36 for 303 yards, in the process turning in just the ninth 300-yard passing game in school history and the first of his career. His four touchdown passes were a career best and one short of a Wittenberg record as well.

Murray had his biggest game in the Red & White, going for 105 yards on 18 carries and adding three receptions for 93 yards in his first start and second game overall since transferring from Brown University last winter. Holmes also had 28 yards on 11 carries, including two key fourth-down runs that kept drives alive.

The season started with a disappointing 49-16 loss at Capital on Sept. 4. In losing their first season opener since 1994, the Tigers fell behind early and were done in by turnovers and several big plays by nationally ranked Capital.

Wittenberg's offense did have its bright moments as Holmes and Murray both scored rushing touchdowns and were credited with 73 yards on the ground. In addition, junior wide receiver Jered Glover (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown) had 28 yards rushing and 32 yards receiving.