---

Jacob Thomas

The Wittenberg football team, ranked 22nd in the nation, improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference after winning a key game against Wabash College, 49-35, last Saturday. The Tigers are tied for first place in the conference with the College of Wooster heading into tomorrow's key game at third-place Ohio Wesleyan.

The game-changing play in the win over Wabash was, of all things, a punt. With Wittenberg clinging to a 41-35 lead and pinned deep in its own end late in the fourth quarter clock, senior Jacob Thomas (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) booted the ball 73 yards and after the Little Giants were unable to control the ball, Tigers sophomore Joe Brumfield (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge) pounced on it for the Tigers. That led to a three-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Tristan Murray (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh), capping a day in which he totaled 234 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.

Murray was recognized for his outstanding performance with NCAC Player of the Week honors.

Before a large Homecoming Weekend crowd, Wittenberg rallied from an early 7-0 deficit with 31 straight points before halftime, thanks to one touchdown running and another receiving for Murray, a 12-yard TD reception by junior wide receiver Jered Glover (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown), an eight-yard scoring pass play to senior wideout Joe Rumschlag (Maumee, Ohio/Toledo Christian) and a 38-yard field goal by freshman kicker Mark Porter (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) with just three ticks left on the clock.

Wabash battled back in the second half, outscoring Wittenberg 21-7 in the third quarter to get back in the game. In the fourth quarter, Porter started the scoring with a 27-yard field goal before Wabash scored a touchdown that set up the game's aforementioned final sequence.

Wittenberg got a solid game from senior quarterback Ryan Holmes (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda) as he went 22-of-35 for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Six Tiger players caught at least two passes in the game, led by Glover with six catches for 42 yards and Rumschlag with five receptions for a team-high 48 yards. Freshman cornerback Alan Tracewell (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) was outstanding, contributing a game-high 10 solo tackles and 13 total tackles and he also was credited with two passes broken up. Junior cornerback Lavon Wilborn (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) added nine total tackles and a first-half interception he returned 40 yards to set up a touchdown.