SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A season with high hopes started off about as badly as possible Saturday as the Wittenberg Tigers were defeated 54-0 at home against Capital University. It was the second straight year that Capital had captured a lop-sided victory over the Tigers, only this time the Crusaders did it by pinning the first shutout on Wittenberg since 1992.

Before a crowd estimated at 4,150 enjoying the game on a perfect summer evening, Capital took control from the outset, scoring on every first-half possession en route to a 41-0 halftime lead. Playing without senior quarterback Ryan Holmes, who was injured in the second quarter, Wittenberg made a few more defensive stops in the final 30 minutes but could muster nothing offensively.

Capital outgained Wittenberg by a stunning 519-185 for the game. The catalyst was junior quarterback Rocky Pentello, who completed 24-of-29 passes on the night for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Just as he was a year earlier, Pentello was masterful as he carved up the Tiger defense with a precise short passing game that utilized six different receivers, led by Lewis Howes with seven catches for 117 yards and two scores.

Wittenberg hadn't been shut out since a season-opening home defeat against Baldwin-Wallace in 1992, the Tigers' only defeat that year, and the loss was the Tigers' worst since a 1942 defeat at the hands of Wooster. Statistically, the Tigers were paced by senior tailback Tristan Murray with 20 carries for 73 yards and five receptions for 39 yards. Holmes finished 6-of-10 for 60 yards in his short night.

Defensively, junior safety Mitch Fonseca was outstanding, recording 18 tackles, including 14 solos, both totals being career highs for the Tigers' leading tackler the last two seasons. Freshman linebacker Lance Phillips added nine tackles, junior linebacker Tyler Harmon chipped in with seven tackles, including one for a three-yard loss, and senior defensive end Chris Vennefron played a fine game with six tackles, including one for a three-yard loss.

It gets no easier for Wittenberg as the Tigers prepare to travel to the University of Dayton on Sept. 10 for a game against the Division I-AA non-scholarship Flyers. UD opened its season with a 38-0 win over Tiffin today.