After a 2005 season that did not meet the lofty standards of the football program with the most wins in NCAA Division III history, the Wittenberg Tigers head into 2006 with high hopes of a return to the top of the North Coast Athletic Conference heap. While there are numerous holes to fill, the Tigers are counting on the return of 29 letterwinners, including 10 starters, as the foundation for a return to glory.
The Tiger offense has been proficient the last few years, featuring a fine balance between a punishing rushing attack and an efficient aerial game. That may be the case again in 2006, but many of the names will change thanks to the departure of a 26-man senior class, which included record-setting wide receiver Jered Glover, standout quarterback Ryan Holmes, whose injury in last year's season opener was an ominous harbinger of things to come, two starting offensive lineman and the team's top two tight ends.
All is not lost, however. In 2006, Wittenberg fans can count on the program's traditionally strong running game, spearheaded by fifth-year senior tailback Tristan Murray (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) and three returning offensive linemen, including first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference tackle Ted Londot (Utica, Ohio/Utica). Murray, who led the NCAC in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards in 2005, has reached the top 10 in Wittenberg history in rushing yards and total points in just two seasons in the Red & White.
Several players will vie for the all-important quarterback position in 2006. Sophomore Matt Brumfield (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge), who appeared in six games, starting two, in his rookie campaign, comes into camp as the frontrunner.
The other returning starters on offense are junior wide receiver Mark Harriman (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley), who was third on the team with 24 receptions a year ago, junior fullback Andy Vanover (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe), who had 154 yards rushing and 154 yards receiving in 2005, senior lineman Mark Mandich (Miami Lakes, Fla./Dade Christian), who split time between guard and tackle in his first season as a starter, and senior center Tim Funke (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli), a second-team All-NCAC choice last year. In addition, the offensive backfield is bolstered by the return of junior tailback Derrick Braziel (Brook Park, Ohio/West Springfield (Va.)), who was the team's No. 2 rusher a year ago after transferring from the University of Findlay.
Competing against a loaded schedule in 2005, the Tiger defense gave up an uncharacteristic 20.5 points per game. In Wittenberg's five wins, the Tigers allowed just 15 points and no opponent reached double digits. But in Wittenberg's five losses, which included two NCAA Division III Tournament qualifiers and NCAA Division I-AA non-scholarship powerhouse Dayton, the Tigers surrendered 190 points.
That defense returns just three starters, but that is a misleading stat since experienced players return at almost every position.
The deepest position is linebacker. Senior Tyler Harmon (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian), an All-NCAC honoree at fullback in 2003 and 2004, successfully made the transition to linebacker a year ago. After starting the season on the outside in Wittenberg's 4-3 alignment, Harmon moved inside to start the last seven games after injuries ravaged the unit. He accumulated a team-best 75 tackles, including five for loss.
Harmon will likely be back on the outside in 2006 with the return of sophomore Lance Phillips (Wellston, Ohio/Wellston), who went down with a season-ending knee injury early in the third game of his freshman season. Phillips, whose father Bo was a member of Wittenberg's 1975 national championship team, is a prototypical middle linebacker with a combination of size and speed. He was second on the team with 22 tackles, including 11 solos, through the first three weeks of the 2005 season.
The frontrunner for the other linebacker spot is junior Walter Bonham (Mansfield, Ohio/Senior), a part-time starter a year ago due to injuries. He finished with 30 tackles in eight games. All four starters on the 2005 defensive line exhausted their collegiate eligibility, but there are several experienced players back in the fold. Senior end Serge Thebaud (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast) and senior tackle Willie Jordan (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) have been part-time starters for three years, and both are in line to take on bigger roles as full-time starters. Sophomore Anthony Davis (New Lexington, Ohio/Fisher Catholic) gained increased playing time as the 2005 season went on, and he is a front-runner for a starting tackle spot in 2006.
In the secondary, there is talent, but there are also question marks. Both cornerback positions will have new starters in 2006, but the safety position is overflowing with talent and experience, creating some interesting competitions in summer camp.
Senior safety Mitch Fonseca (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus), the team leader in tackles in 2003 and 2004 and the No. 2 man in that category a year ago, is back for another go-around. He teamed with fifth-year seniorAdam Hewitt (Piqua, Ohio/Lehman Catholic) in 2004 and fifth-year senior Will Block (Troy, Ohio/Troy) in 2005. Hewitt, a converted tailback, had a team-best three interceptions in his only season as a defensive starter before missing the 2005 season with an injury. Block, also a converted tailback, had 33 tackles and four passes broken up in his first season as a defensive starter in 2005.
Seniors Joe Brumfield (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge), another converted tailback, and Lavon Wilborn (Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville South) are the most experienced returning cornerbacks. Senior Scott Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield), yet another converted tailback, and junior Desmond Braziel (Brook Park, Ohio/West Springfield (Va.)) will contend for playing time in the defensive backfield as well. Williams has been a top back-up and special teams performer the last two years, while Braziel, another converted tailback, is a transfer from the University of Findlay.
Rounding things out, the kicking game is in good hands with junior Mark Porter (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), who has made 19-of-27 field goals (good for a school-record .703 percentage) and 83-of-92 extra-point attempts in his first two seasons in the Red & White. After ranking among the NCAC leaders in scoring, Porter was rewarded with second-team All-NCAC honors in 2005.
The punting duties likely will fall to junior Matt Prenger (Marion, Ohio/Local), who has been the understudy for All-American Jacob Thomas each of the last two years. He excelled in his one career appearance, averaging more than 41 yards on four punts in place of an injured Thomas against Ohio Wesleyan in 2004.
2005 Record 5-5
NCAC Record 5-2 (3rd)
Letterwinners Returning (29) Offensive: 15, Defensive: 13, Specialist: 1
Letterwinners Lost (27) Offensive: 13, Defensive: 12, Specialist: 1
Starters Lost (14) Offensive: 5, Defensive 8, Specialist: 1
Starters Returning (10) Offensive: 6, Defensive: 3, Specialist: 1
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: Multiple 4-3
Letterwinners Returning (29):
Offense (15) - Ross Ballinger, Derrick Braziel, Matt Brumfield, B.J. Coad, Brian Ervin, Tim Funke, Mark Harriman, Jason Hartzler, Brandon Johnson, Ted Londot, Mark Mandich, Ryan McCoart, Tristan Murray, Dan Smith, Andy Vanover
Defense (13) - Walter Bonham, Joe Brumfield, Tim Flammer, Mitch Fonseca, Tyler Harmon, Adam Hewitt, Willie Jordan, Joe Swanson, Serge Thebaud, Scott Williams, Paul Young, Will Block, Lavon Wilborn
Specialists (1) - Mark Porter
Letterwinners Lost (27):
Offense (13) - George Andress, Trevor Armstrong, Mike Carrier, Nate Cherry, Brian Connell, Billy Evans, Braden Freeman, Jered Glover, Ryan Holmes, Jake Kallgren, Jon Kirkwood, Dymond McDonald, Geron Stokes
Defense (13) - David Bazzel, Ken Bibb, Anthoni Fazio, Sean Fields, Dave Fleck, Mike Freeman, Tyler Jenkins, Brandon Slade, Matt Stechschulte, Adam Stump, Clinton Tiggs, Chris Vennefron, Ryan Kofron
Specialists (1) - Jacob Thomas
Starters Returning (10):
Offense (6) - WR Mark Harriman, OL Ted Londot, OL Tim Funke, OL Mark Mandich, RB Tristan Murray, RB Andy Vanover
Defense (3) - LB Tyler Harmon, S Will Block, S Mitch Fonseca
Specialists (1) - K Mark Porter
Starters Lost (14):
Offense (5) - WR Jered Glover, QB Geron Stokes, OL Jake Kallgren, OL Billy Evans, TE Nate Cherry
Defense (8) - LB Anthoni Fazio, LB Ken Bibb, DL Matt Stechschulte, DL Chris Vennefron, DL Tyler Jenkins, DL Dave Fleck, DB Brandon Slade, DB Mike Freeman
Specialists (1) - P Jacob Thomas