SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers aren't into moral victories - not with more than 650 wins between the lines in more than 110 years of football - but there certainly were some to be taken from a 35-28 loss to NCAA Division I-AA Dayton Saturday at Edwards-Maurer Field.
Before an enthusiastic Community Day crowd of 3,400, Wittenberg went toe-to-toe with the Flyers, who captured a 41-23 win over Wittenberg last year on its home turf. However, the Tigers never managed to get into the lead, and in the end the Flyers' veteran clock management made the difference as they scored the last touchdown in each half and burned the final 5:54 off the clock.
The Tigers dropped to 0-2 overall, heading into an off week before a Sept. 23 home date against Alma. Dayton is 2-0, also with an off week ahead before a game against Austin Peay.
Dayton got the scoring started in most improbable fashion, taking advantage of a short snap to Wittenberg punter Matt Prenger (Maria Stein, Ohio/Marion Local). The ensuing blocked punt led to a 32-yard touchdown return by Chance Walton with 10:05 showing on the first quarter clock.
Wittenberg responded with a 69-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterbackAaron Huffman (Newark, Ohio/Newark), the start of a solid performance after a rocky collegiate debut against fifth-ranked Capital a week earlier. Huffman faked the pitch on an option play and outran the Dayton secondary on the second play of Wittenberg's third drive.
Perhaps the key sequence of the entire game occurred at the end of the first half. After the teams traded touchdowns - an 18-yard first quarter run by Dayton's Brandon Godsey and a second quarter hookup between Huffman and senior wide receiver Ryan McCoart (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn) that covered 11 yards - Dayton went 83 yards in eight plays in just 1:06 to score a touchdown with just 19 seconds left in the first half. That came after a Wittenberg punt.
UD opened a 14-point advantage early in the third quarter with a long touchdown drive on its first possession, but the Tigers responded with a 51-yard touchdown run by senior tailback Tristan Murray (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) with 4:50 left in the third quarter. Murray added a six-yard burst early in the fourth, but Dayton had the answer, going 69 yards on eight plays, ending with Godsey's second TD of the game.
Murray finished the day with 104 yards on 24 carries, while Huffman added 107 yards on eight carries. Huffman added 111 yards on 14 completions in 25 attempts. The Tigers' leading receiver was senior Mark Harriman (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley), who finished with four catches for 27 yards. Sophomore Patrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) and Murray added three receptions each.
Dayton, which outgained Wittenberg 509-338 for the game, got an outstanding game from junior quarterback Kevin Hoyng, who threw for 288 yards and ran for another 59. Carlton McFadgeon atoned for two costly first half fumbles to finish with game-highs of six catches for 118 yards.
Defensively, the Tigers got big-time performances from senior linebackers Tyler Harmon (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) and Joe Swanson (Germantown, Ohio/Valley View). Both finished with 10 total tackles, including five solos. Harmon added a forced fumble. Each was credited with a tackle for loss.