In 2006, the Wittenberg Tigers rose to the head of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) pack for the ninth time in 17 seasons as a league member. While he has the proven ability to accomplish the task of repeating as a conference champion, Head Coach Joe Fincham knows that it is far from easy.
In 2007, the climb to the top will be a treacherous one after a large, accomplished senior class left gaping holes in the lineup. However, a total of 11 starters are back in the fold, including sophomore quarterback Aaron Huffman (Newark, Ohio/Newark), the 2006 NCAC Newcomer of the Year.
Huffman, who compiled modest totals of 1,297 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air while starting all 11 games in 2006, will lead an offensive unit that has an intriguing mix of experience and youthful talent.
The experience will be provided by senior fullback Andy Vanover (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) and junior wide receiver Patrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield), two of the team's top four receivers who combined for five touchdown receptions a year ago. Vanover, a two-time all-conference honoree, will clear the way for a new tailback, however, as the Tigers attempt to replace one of the program's all-time greats in Tristan Murray. He accounted for more than 50 percent of their yards from scrimmage in 2006 and finished as the No. 2 rusher and scorer in school history.
The offensive backfield is bolstered by the return of senior Derrick Braziel (Brook Park, Ohio/West Springfield (Va.)), who was the team's No. 2 rusher in 2005 after transferring from the University of Findlay. Braziel, who missed the entire 2006 season with a knee injury, is expected to battle sophomore Jeff Wilbur (Ann Arbor, Mich./Community) and junior Tony Hall (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor), who scored four touchdowns as a short-yardage specialist in 2006, for the starting nod at tailback.
Senior guards Brandon Johnson (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) and Dan Smith (Springfield, Ohio/North) are also back in the fold, but three other all-conference offensive linemen graduated, leaving question marks in that area. No other players on the roster have started a collegiate game.
Defensively, the Tigers have a good mix of experience and talent as well, starting with senior linebacker Joe Swanson (Germantown, Ohio/Valley View), who came on strong in his first year as a starter to finish second on the team in tackles in 2006. He will assume leadership responsibilities in 2007 as the Tigers must fill the void left by linebacker Tyler Harmon, the team's leading tackler the last two years after serving as the team's starting fullback in 2003 and 2004.
The defensive line figures to be a strength for the Tigers, starting with junior tacklesLance Phillips (Wellston, Ohio/Wellston) and Anthony Davis (New Lexington, Ohio/Fisher Catholic). Phillips made the move from middle linebacker early in the 2006 season and recorded 43 tackles, while Davis led the Tigers with seven sacks.
Favorites for the end spots are senior Serge Thebaud (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast), who had 21 tackles in his first full season as a starter, junior Matt Maidlow (Cincinnati, Ohio/Madeira), who came on strong in his second season in the Red & White, and sophomore Anthony Oliver (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic), who made two starts and recorded 26 tackles in his first season.
The entire starting defensive backfield graduated in May, but the cupboard is not bare here either, starting with sophomore cornerback Brandyn Brown (Louisville, Ky./Male), who saw extensive action in his rookie year. In addition to making two interceptions and tying for the team lead with four passes broken up and two fumble recoveries, Brown ranked among the NCAC leaders in return yardage as he averaged 6.8 yards on 11 punt returns and 20 yards on 26 kickoff returns.
Senior Desmond Braziel (Brook Park, Ohio/West Springfield (Va.)), who transferred from the University of Findlay in 2006, made three starts before going down with a season-ending knee injury. He is penciled in at the other corner position. Among several contenders at the safety positions are senior Tim Flammer (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas), who has earned three letters as a key back-up, and junior Zach Brumfield (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge), who earned his first letter in 2006.
Rounding things out, the placekicking chores will be handled again in 2007 by senior Mark Porter (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), who has ranked among the NCAC leaders in points by kicking each of the last three years. Porter enters his final collegiate campaign as the school record-holder for field goal percentage at .727 (24-of-33) after hitting 5-of-6 attempts a year ago. In addition, Porter also has made 112-of-128 extra-point attempts in his first three seasons in the Red & White, and he is on track to break the school record for career points by kicking (247). He enters the 2007 season with 184 career points, good for third on the school list.
The punting duties likely will fall again to senior Matt Prenger (Marion, Ohio/Local), who averaged 36.1 yards per attempt in his first season as a starter.
2006 Record 7-4
NCAC Record 6-1 (1st)
Letterwinners Returning (34) Offensive: 17, Defensive: 14, Specialist: 3
Letterwinners Lost (18) Offensive: 8, Defensive: 10, Specialist: 0
Starters Lost (13) Offensive: 6, Defensive 7, Specialist: 0
Starters Returning (11) Offensive: 5, Defensive 4, Specialist: 2
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: Multiple 4-3
Letterwinners Returning (34):
Offense (17) - Allen-Michael Bills, Derrick Braziel (2005), Matt Brumfield, B.J. Coad, Tony Eich, Brian Ervin, Tony Hall, Aaron Huffman, Brandon Johnson, Chris Jones, Dan McCormick, Ryan Resides, Dan Smith, Brady Swift, Andy Vanover, Patrick Williams
Defense (14) - Neil Arehart, Brandyn Brown, Zach Brumfield, Travis Brunic, Anthony Davis, Tim Flammer, Kyle Lohrman, Matt Maidlow, William McKelvey, Anthony Oliver, Cody Parsell, Lance Phillips, Joe Swanson, Serge Thebaud
Specialists (3) - Mark Porter, Matt Prenger, Zack Harris
Letterwinners Lost (18):
Offense (8) - Ross Ballinger, Ted Londot, Ryan McCoart, Tristan Murray, Tim Funke, Mark Harriman, Mark Mandich, Jacob Bowman
Defense (10) - Will Block, Walter Bonham, Joe Brumfield, Mitch Fonseca, Danny Hall, Tyler Harmon, Adam Hewitt, Willie Jordan, Scott Williams, Lavon Wilborn
Specialists (0) - none
Starters Returning (11):
Offense (5) - WR Patrick Williams, OG Dan Smith, OG Brandon Johnson, QB Aaron Huffman, RB Andy Vanover
Defense (4) - LB Joe Swanson, DE Serge Thebaud, DT Anthony Davis, DT Lance Phillips
Specialists (2) - K Mark Porter, P Matt Prenger
Starters Lost (13):
Offense (6) - WR Mark Harriman, TE Jacob Bowman, OT Ted Londot, C Tim Funke, OT Mark Mandich, RB Tristan Murray
Defense (7) - DE Willie Jordan, LB Tyler Harmon, CB Lavon Wilborn, CB Joe Brumfield, S Adam Hewitt, S Will Block, S Mitch Fonseca
Specialists (0) - none