WOOSTER, Ohio — A year ago, the Wittenberg Tigers led nine of their 10 games in the second half. In four of those nine games, the end result was something fans of the Red & White disdain more than anything else - a loss.
Faced with an eerily similar situation four weeks into the 2006 season, the latest edition of the Tigers answered the bell Saturday at the College of Wooster. After a 17-7 halftime lead evaporated, and with the host Scots driving for what could have been a clinching score in the fourth quarter, Wittenberg came up with a key turnover and an ensuing 74-yard touchdown drive. It all culminated with a one-yard touchdown run by senior tailback Tristan Murray (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) with 45 seconds remaining, a fitting end to a thrilling 24-21 Tiger victory.
The Tigers evened their record at 2-2 overall and, more importantly, they got a leg up on one of their primary competitors in the chase for the 2006 North Coast Athletic Conference championship. Wittenberg is 1-0 in the NCAC heading into next weekend's Homecoming game against Earlham back at Edwards-Maurer Field.
Wooster, on the other hand, must regroup quickly heading into road games at Ohio Wesleyan and Hiram the next two weeks. The Scots fell to 3-1 overall with the defeat, their 16th loss in 18 meetings with Wittenberg as members of the NCAC.
Wittenberg controlled action in the first 30 minutes and took what appeared to be a commanding 17-7 lead into the halftime locker room. Junior kicker Mark Porter (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) opened the scoring with a 22-yard field goal, his first of the season, and then Murray added a pair of second-quarter scores. The first was a one-yard run, while the second was a 23-yard reception that followed an untimely Wooster turnover.
The second half was a different story, however. Wooster controlled the majority of action before the key fumble, which came with 6:20 remaining in the game. The Scots scored on two long third-quarter pass plays from senior quarterback Justin Shafer, who finished his day with 200 yards passing, and Wooster held a 21-17 advantage in the late-going.
That's when Murray stepped up, gaining 55 yards on nine carries on the final drive. That capped a day in which Murray had 146 rushing yards on 31 carries and another 50 receiving yards on four receptions.
Junior fullback Andy Vanover (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) added 18 yards on three carries, including a key 12-yard first-down burst in the final drive. Freshman quarterback Aaron Huffman (Newark, Ohio/Newark) was efficient again, finishing 11-of-21 for 124 yards. The key statistic of the game was turnovers - Wittenberg did not have any, while the veteran Scots had two costly miscues that led directly to 14 Tiger points.
Defensively, the Tigers had by far their finest performance of the 2006 season. A unit that had just six tackles for loss in the first two games of the 2006 season combined had seven against Wooster, including four sacks. Senior linebackersTyler Harmon (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) and Joe Swanson (Germantown, Ohio/Valley View) led with a combined 16 tackles. Swanson was all over the field, recording two tackles for loss, including a nine-yard sack, and the second-quarter interception, the first of his career. He returned it 14 yards.