The Wittenberg Tigers were just 20 points away from a perfect season in 2007, instead settling for records of 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). In hopes of getting back to the top of the conference heap and national title contention, Head Coach Joe Fincham welcomes back 16 starters and a whopping 45 letterwinners, making this potentially one of the deepest, most talented squads in his 12-year run at historic Edwards-Maurer Field.
Unlike the last two years, when the Tiger coaching staff was rebuilding entire units, the 2008 squad returns mostly intact, starting on offense with junior quarterbackAaron Huffman (Newark, Ohio/Newark). Huffman, the 2007 team Most Improved Player and the 2006 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, is on pace to shatter Wittenberg's career passing records after starting every game of his career so far. After throwing for more than 200 yards per game a year ago, Huffman is joined by a host of playmakers and a solid core of the offensive lineman in 2008.
Huffman's favorite target is senior wide receiver Patrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield), who set a school record with 56 receptions in 2007. He leads a receiving unit that returns four of its top six performers from a year ago, including sophomore wideout Anthony Kralich (Kettering, Ohio/Alter) and junior first-team All-NCAC tight end Mat Guida (LaGrange, Ky./Oldham County), who led the team with 17.7 yards per catch in 2007. Five of Guida's 17 receptions on the season went for touchdowns.
The offensive backfield features a host of talented but largely unproven players, starting with sophomore tailbacks Rod Belcher (Covington, Ga./Newton County)and Corey Weber (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) and senior Tony Hall (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor), who is returning from a foot injury after scoring four touchdowns as a short-yardage specialist in 2006. Belcher, an honorable mention All-NCAC choice as a return specialist, and Weber both averaged more than six yards per carry while combining for more than 800 yards and eight touchdowns between them a year ago.
There are several contenders to fill fullback Andy Vanover's all-conference shoes, starting with junior Dan McCormick (Troy, Ohio/Troy), while the offensive line returns four players with starting experience in juniors Tony Eich (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) and Dillon Hollin (Prospect, Ky./Trinity) and sophomores Alex Burwell (Sunbury, Ohio/Big Walnut) and Nick Hudepohl (Crescent Springs, Ky./Covington Catholic). Hollin was a second-team All-NCAC selection after splitting his season between the guard and center positions.
Defensively, the Tigers have a good mix of experience and youthful talent as well, starting with sophomore linebacker Brad McKinley (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), who led the team with 120 in tackles in 2007 en route to NCAC Newcomer of the Year honors. McKinley, who finished with more tackles than any other NCAA Division III freshman in the nation, spearheaded a unit that finished fifth in the nation in interceptions per game, seventh in scoring defense and eighth in rush defense.
Defensive Line Coach Ryan Gresham, class of 2004, congratulates Anthony Oliver after a defensive stop during a 2007 game.
McKinley, a dynamic special teams performer as well, has plenty of experienced players vying for playing time around him, including juniors Kyle Lohrman (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) and Neil Arehart (Sabina, Ohio/East Clinton) and sophomores Mike Montgomery (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler) and Ben Maxwell (Kettering, Ohio/Alter). Lohrman started seven games in 2007 and ranked among the team leaders in tackles, while Arehart, Montgomery and Maxwell all made the most of opportunities presented after captain Joe Swanson went down with a season-ending injury midway through the campaign.
The line was the strength for the Tiger defense a year ago, and that figures to be the case again in 2008, thanks to the return of eight of the nine players in the rotation. It all starts with senior tackles Lance Phillips (Wellston, Ohio/Wellston)and Anthony Davis (New Lexington, Ohio/Fisher Catholic), both of whom have claimed an all-conference award in their collegiate career. Phillips, a converted linebacker, ranked among the team leaders in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks, while Davis battled through a preseason injury after leading the Tigers with seven sacks in 2006.
Senior Matt Maidlow (Cincinnati, Ohio/Madeira) and junior Anthony Oliver (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) are a pair of talented defensive ends. Oliver garnered second-team All-NCAC honors a year ago after leading the Tigers with four sacks. Sophomores Nick Marino (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana), Adam Kattoua (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Eddie Vallery (South Solon, Ohio/Madison Plains) and junior Taylor Scherer (Crestwood, Ky./S. Oldham County) also return after playing key roles on the line last year.
The defensive backfield is led by junior cornerback Brandyn Brown (Louisville, Ky./Male), who earned first-team All-NCAC honors in his first year as a full-time starter. Brown, also a dangerous kick returner, led the Tigers in interceptions and passes defensed in 2007.
The other cornerback position was manned by senior Travis Brunic (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) for most of the 2007 season, while the strong safety spot featured sophomore Manny Rodriguez (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett), who ranked third on the team in tackles a year ago. Four other returning letterwinners are among a host of players battling for playing time in the backfield.
Rounding things out, the placekicking and punting positions are open competitions in 2008, with senior Zach Harris (Columbus, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) the lone returning letterwinner among the team's specialists.
2007 Record 8-2
NCAC Record 6-1 (2nd)
Letterwinners Returning (39) Offensive: 18, Defensive: 20, Specialist: 1
Letterwinners Lost (23) Offensive: 11, Defensive: 10, Specialist: 2
Starters Returning (16) Offensive: 7, Defensive 9, Specialist: 0
Starters Lost (8) Offensive: 4, Defensive 2, Specialist: 2
Offense: Multiple I
Defense: Multiple 4-3
Letterwinners Returning (39):
Offense (18) - Rod Belcher, Matt Brumfield, Alex Burwell, Tony Eich, Zach Elrod, Mat Guida, Tony Hall (2006), Dillon Hollin, Nick Hudepohl, Aaron Huffman, Anthony Kralich, Dan McCormick, Josh Nettleton, Cody Parsell, Brady Swift, Corey Weber, Billy West, Patrick Williams
Defense (20) - Brandyn Brown, Zach Brumfield, Travis Brunic, Trent Brunic, Anthony Davis, Jumar Guy, Adam Kattoua, Kyle Lohrman, Anthony Oliver, Matt Maidlow, Nick Marino, Anthony Marolo, Ben Maxwell, Brad McKinley, Ben Merkert, Mike Montgomery, Lance Phillips, Taylor Scherer, Manny Rodriguez, Eddie Vallery
Specialists (1) - Zack Harris
Letterwinners Lost (23):
Offense (11) - Derrick Braziel, B.J. Coad, Brian Ervin, B.J. Johnson, Dan Smith, Andy Vanover, Demetrius Lindsay, Marc Logan, Joe Raleigh, William McKelvey, Ryan Resides
Defense (10) - Neil Arehart, Desmond Braziel, Tim Flammer, Nick Hendrickson, Ben Koester, Joe Swanson, Serge Thebaud, Tim Uher, Kevin Haverstock, Jeb Pencil
Specialists (2) - Matt Prenger, Mark Porter
Starters Returning (16):
Offense (7) - WR Patrick Williams, QB Aaron Huffman, C Dillon Hollin, OT Nick Hudepohl, OG Alex Burwell, TE Mat Guida, WR Anthony Kralich
Defense (9) - CB Brandyn Brown, CB Travis Brunic, DT Anthony Davis, DE Anthony Oliver, DE Matt Maidlow, LB Brad McKinley, LB Kyle Lohrman, DT Lance Phillips, S Manny Rodriguez
Specialists (0)
Starters Lost (8):
Offense (4) - RB Derrick Braziel, OT B.J. Coad, OG Dan Smith, FB Andy Vanover
Defense (2) - S Tim Flammer, LB Joe Swanson
Specialists (2) - P Matt Prenger, K Mark Porter