Wittenberg Outlasts Wooster, 14-9, to Finish 9-1

WOOSTER, Ohio - It is said that offense sells tickets, but defense wins games. Just ask the Wittenberg University Tigers. In the cold, rain and mud that enveloped the College of Wooster's John P. Papp Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Tigers came up with four huge defensive plays with the game - and season - on the line to pull out a crucial 14-9 victory over the host Scots.

The biggest play of the game came with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter and the Scots facing a third down play deep in Wittenberg territory. Wooster quarterback Jeff Spraggins dropped back to pass but Wittenberg senior linebacker Dustin Goldsbury (Columbus, Ohio/Ready) came clean on a blitz to sack him, force a fumble and then recover it as well. Wittenberg then ran out most of the clock, but when the Scots got it back Spraggins was sacked again on the game's final play by the senior defensive end duo of Jim Lackmeyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian)and Allen D'Andrea (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier).

The win moved the Tigers into good position to grab one of three Pool C at-large bids into the NCAA Division III tournament. Wittenberg finishes the regular season with a 9-1 record, including a 6-1 mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference and a second-place finish. Wooster, the preseason No. 5 pick by the media and coaches, finishes 8-2 and 5-2 in the NCAC.

The great defense, a trademark of the Tigers, who have ranked first in total defense in the NCAC 10 of the last 11 years, didn't overshadow the phenomenal efforts of senior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont). Grove, playing his first game since breaking two bones in his foot five weeks earlier in an overtime loss to Wabash, posted 212 yards on 34 carries. It was Grove's second 200-yard rushing day in 2002 and his fourth in the last two seasons. He finishes the season 929 yards and 16 touchdowns on 129 carries in just six games.

Grove's biggest carries of the game came immediately after two of the aforementioned huge defensive plays. After senior Andy Waddle (Springfield, Ohio/Greenon) intercepted a Wooster pass early in the fourth quarter, Grove went 27 yards on the second play of the ensuing possession to give the Tigers a little breathing room at 14-3. Then, after Wooster closed to within 14-9 but were stopped on Goldsbury's sack, Grove went 31 yards deep into Scots territory, which allowed the Tigers to nearly run out the clock.

The fourth huge defensive play was actually the first one chronologically. Junior cornerback Tim Gaal (Amanda, Ohio/Clearcreek) made his first interception of the season in the first quarter, which led to Wittenberg's first scoring drive. Sophomore fullback Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida) capped that eight-play, 74-yard drive with a 22-yard run.

Wittenberg dominated the game, particularly the first half, statistically but not on the scoreboard, where it matters most. The Tigers outrushed the Scots 258-88, accumulated 358 yards of total offense to 232 for Wooster and had the ball for 34 of the game's 60 minutes. Senior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin)finished 13-for-22 passing for 120 yards and freshman wide receiver Jered Glover (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown) topped the team in catches with six for 50 yards.

Defensively, Goldsbury, the team's leading tackler, finished with seven stops, including two for a total loss of 13 yards. Lackmeyer and senior linebacker Ryan Gresham (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor) added six total tackles and one for loss each.

While it wasn't much of a day for offense, Wittenberg did break two school and NCAC offensive records. The Tigers broke the record for total points in a season (485) and points-after-touchdowns in a season (57). Wittenberg came into the game leading the nation in scoring with 52.3 points per game and concluded the regular season averaging a phenomenal 48.5 points per outing.