RICHMOND, Ind. — Since starting the season with a shutout loss to nationally ranked Capital, the Wittenberg Tigers have done some serious growing up. With a 73-0 road win over Earlham, the Tigers won - and scored more points than the previous week - for a fourth straight game.
Heading into the most important game of the 2007 season, a road trip to preseason North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) favorite Wabash, Wittenberg has plenty of momentum with a 4-1 overall record, including a mark of 2-0 in the NCAC. Injury-riddled Earlham slipped to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the NCAC after playing Wabash and Wittenberg in back-to-back weeks.
Like the previous week at home against Wooster, the Tigers pounced from the opening kickoff and never looked back. The Quakers committed the first three of their seven turnovers on their first three possessions, leading to 17 quick Tiger points on a 36-yard halfback option pass from freshman Corey Weber (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) to junior Patrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield), a 28-yard field goal by senior kicker Mark Porter (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) and a three-yard scoring plunge by junior defensive tackle Lance Phillips (Wellston, Ohio/Wellston). The TD pass was a first for Weber and the TD run was a first for Phillips, who has been part of a short yardage package the Tiger offense recently implemented.
The Tigers wrapped up a 24-point first quarter with a 22-yard scoring strike from sophomore quarterback Aaron Huffman (Newark, Ohio/Newark) to freshman wide receiver Demetrius Lindsay (Mansfield, Ohio/Senior). That preceded three more scores in the second quarter - a 42-yard hook-up between Huffman and sophomore tight end Mat Guida (LaGrange, Ky./Oldham County), a two-yard run by sophomore fullback Dan McCormick (Troy, Ohio/Troy) and a 26-yard exchange from Huffman to Guida - that made it 45-0.
The Tigers played mostly reserves over the final 30 minutes, but they still managed to add 28 points. Sophomore defensive back Tim Uher (Granville, Ohio/Pickerington North) returned a punt 48 yards for a score, Weber added a three-yard TD run, freshman tailback Rod Belcher (Covington, Ga./Newton County) added a 17-yard scoring scamper and sophomore tailback Billy West (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) rounded things out with a five-yard touchdown run, the first of his career.
For the game, Wittenberg outgained the home team by a whopping 592-170 margin, even though the Tigers actually had the ball six less minutes. The keys were field position, as only one Wittenberg drive spanned more than 60 yards, and turnovers, as the Tigers turned five interceptions and two fumble recoveries into 38 points.
Huffman played just a half, but it was enough for him to record career-bests of 326 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He completed 18-of-20 passes. Lindsay was the primary target on the day as he finished with career-highs of 10 catches for 126 yards. Williams added 112 yards on six receptions and Guida had his best day as a collegian with 111 yards on four catches.
Also of note, Porter finished with 13 points by kicking, one short of the school record. He now has 218 points by kicking, 29 short of the school record held by Ryan Walker (1997-2000).
The performance of the Wittenberg defense was tremendous as well, led by freshman defensive lineman Nick Marino (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana) with a career-high eight tackles, including 3.5 for a loss of 25 yards. He forced a fumble and recorded three sacks. Among numerous other standouts, sophomore defensive back Trent Brunic (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) had quite a day with one tackle, one fumble recovery and two interceptions.
Earlham picked up 66 hard-earned rushing yards from Manny Myers and quarterback Randy Kerns finished with 69 yards on 10-of-21 passing. His favorite target was receiver Joe White with three receptions for 23 yards.