SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The injury-riddled Wittenberg Tigers got the 2008 season started off right with a 22-10 victory over visiting Olivet.
The win was Wittenberg's fifth straight in a series with Olivet that dates back more than 80 years. The Tigers have never lost to the Comets, who dropped a 17-16 decision to Wittenberg on their home turf in 2007.
Wittenberg dictated most of the action in this one, but the outcome remained in doubt until the closing quarter. That's when the Tigers finally put the game away as sophomore tailback Corey Weber (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) capped a five-play, 91-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run at the 12:11 mark, followed by a safety when Olivet's punter planted his foot on the end line, giving Wittenberg a safety and a 12-point advantage with 6:10 left.
That was all Wittenberg would need as they consumed the rest of the clock driving to the one-yard line before taking a knee on the game's final play.
Wittenberg outgained Olivet 359-193 for the game, but the Comets made the most of their limited opportunities, scoring a second-quarter touchdown to tie the score at seven and kicking a 45-yard field goal early in the third quarter to pull within 13-10. The Tigers countered with an eight-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Josh McKee (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) in the first quarter and Weber's first TD of the game in the second quarter, which gave the Tigers a lead they would not relinquish.
Weber carried the load on the ground for the Tigers, carrying 26 times for 74 yards. Junior quarterback Aaron Huffman (Newark, Ohio/Newark) added 24 yards on nine carries and 231 yards through the air. Interestingly, Huffman completed 14 passes to just three players. Senior wideout Patrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) led all players with six catches and 117 yards, followed by McKee with five receptions for 85 yards in his collegiate debut and Weber with three catches for 29 yards.
Olivet managed 82 yards rushing and 111 yards passing. The Comets stayed in the game primarily with an aggressive, hard-hitting defensive effort that got a great deal of pressure on Huffman in the passing game and never allowed the Tigers to hit a big play in the running game.
Defensively, junior linebacker Kyle Lohrman (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) led the way with 10 tackles, while sophomore safety Manny Rodriguez (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett) and sophomore linebacker Brad McKinley (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) added eight apiece. Sophomore defensive end Eddie Vallery (South Solon, Ohio/Madison Plains) turned in a fine game in his first collegiate start, recording four tackles, including 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass broken up.
The Tigers, who were without two 2007 starters due to injury and lost two more during the game, have a week off before hosting Washington University at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.