DELAWARE, Ohio - Coming off two losses that knocked Wittenberg football out of contention for the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title, the Tigers found themselves trailing 14-3 at the end of the first quarter at Ohio Wesleyan. And then the Tigers went to work.
It took some time, but persistence paid off for Wittenberg, which improved to 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the NCAC with a 36-28 victory over the Battling Bishops. The win avenged a 14-7 loss to Ohio Wesleyan a year ago in Springfield.
After Wittenberg struck first on a 30-yard field goal by Brandon Goodwin (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont), set up by an interception by Christian Sweet (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), Ohio Wesleyan put together a pair of long drives to reach the end zone. From there, the Tigers chipped away, starting with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Max Milton (Carmel, Indiana/Heritage Christian) to Bryce Anderson (Indianapolis, Indiana/Lawrence Central), which was the only score for either team in the second quarter.
Goodwin added another field goal to start the scoring in the second half, but the Battling Bishops answered with a 99-yard kickoff return for a score. The Tigers had a pair of answers to close the third quarter as Anderson scored on a 10-yard run and Goodwin hit his third field goal of the day to put Wittenberg back in front again.
Milton capped Wittenberg's longest drive of the game, covering 81 yards, with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Milik Bowe (Miami, Florida/Miramar). Following Sweet's second interception, Garrett Gross (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) gave the Tigers some needed cushion as he scored from one yard out.
Anderson and Gross were a tremendous one-two punch at running back in the game, combining for 169 yards on 42 carries, despite the fact that neither had a carry longer than 11 yards. Bowe was tops among the receivers as he piled up seven catches for 110 yards, and Milton posted a solid stats line of 25-of-44 for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
Wittenberg's defense was stifling against the run, finishing the game by allowing -3 yards. Dane Flatter (Carlisle, Ohio/Carlisle) and Cameron Snurr (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) led with five tackles each.
Wittenberg returns home to wrap up the season against Wooster on November 11.