Offense: The Tigers figure to be explosive again after averaging 43.2 points per game in 2003. Junior wide receiver Jered Glover (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown) is a gamebreaking talent who has led Wittenberg in receiving each of his first two seasons and already ranks among the top 10 in school history in catches and receiving yards. Senior quarterback Ryan Holmes (Oxford, Ohio/Talawanda)is back under center after throwing for more than 1,700 yards in his first season as a starter. The running back position is loaded, starting with three-year starter and two-year All-NCAC selection Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida), who moved from fullback to tailback in 2003 and carried the load, finishing with 895 yards and 15 touchdowns on 139 carries, good for a whopping 6.4 yards per carry. Hampshire's blocking back again in 2004 is sophomore Tyler Harmon (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian), who contributed 577 yards of total offense in 2003. On the offensive line, the Tigers return three starters, led by 2003 All-American Brad Kassner (Circleville, Ohio/Circleville).
Yusef Abdul-Zahir
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Defense: The top returning players are All-NCAC junior cornerback Mike Freeman (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne)and All-NCAC junior safety Yusef Abdul-Zahir (Canton, Ohio/McKinley). They are joined in a solid defensive backfield by junior cornerback Brandon Slade (Louisville, Colo./Monarch), the team leader in interceptions with six in 2003, and sophomore safety Mitch Fonseca (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus), who ranked among the team leaders in tackles in his first collegiate season. At linebacker, sophomores Serge Thebaud (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast) andDevon Combs (Columbus, Ohio/South) are penciled in on the outside and freshman Wade Laughrey (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) has impressed in his first collegiate camp to win the middle linebacker spot. Plenty of experience returns along the defensive line, starting with All-NCAC senior Jarrett Brown (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles), already a two-year starter. He teams with junior returning starter Clinton Tiggs (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) in the interior.
In 2003, the defense struggled through some growing pains as just three seniors started games during the season and numerous freshmen and sophomores got their opportunities. Still, the Tigers allowed just 17.4 points per game and finished second in the conference in total defense, allowing just over 270 yards per outing.
Defensively, the Crusaders are led by junior safety Kyle Hausler, who set an OAC record with 10 interceptions in 2002. Twin brother, Thom, a safety, led the OAC in interceptions last season and was also the Crusaders primary return specialist. A pair of senior defensive backs, James Hairston and Joel Ruetty, join the Hauslers in the secondary, while up front former Wittenberg player Matt Evans anchors the line from his defensive end spot. The linebacking corps will be young, led by junior Bart Sparhawk. Capital is also set on special teams with all-region kicker Tyler Kazee and junior punter Andrew Gerber both back for another go-round.
The two teams played every year between 1972 and 1988, when Wittenberg left the OAC for the NCAC. The Tigers won the last meeting in 1988 by a 27-17 score at home in Springfield.
This is the first of a four-game series between Capital and Wittenberg. The Tigers will host the season-opening game in 2005.
Since leaving the OAC, Wittenberg has a 6-7 overall record against former conference rivals, including a 6-3 mark in regular season games only. The last time the Tigers played an OAC team in the regular season was in Week 2 of the 2001 season in a 59-7 home victory over Heidelberg. The last meeting with an OAC squad overall was also in 2001 when eventual national champion Mount Union got the best of things in the quarterfinal round by a 49-21 count.
Wittenberg ended 2003 unranked by the American Football Coaches Association rankings for the first time since they started in 1999. The AFCA poll is the one officially recognized by the NCAA. The AFCA does not publish a preseason poll.
Al Logan
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Joe Fincham
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Capital is led by 1988 Wittenberg graduate Jim Collins. Entering his eighth season at the helm, Collins has an overall record of 30-40, including an OAC mark of 25-38. However, in the last three years, Capital is 21-9, including an 8-2 mark a year ago.