Wittenberg pounds Denison 53-7 on Parents Weekend

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Following the usual pattern of games between the two teams for more than a decade, Wittenberg University pounded visiting Denison University 53-7 before a Parents Weekend crowd of 2,820 at Edwards-Maurer Field. The average score of the previous 12 games was 42-6 in favor of Wittenberg and this game followed a similar storyline as the Tigers scored touchdowns on their first six possessions and didn't put a starter on the field for a play from scrimmage in the second half.

The rout was on early as senior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont) simply couldn't be stopped. The leading scorer in the North Coast Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III with 10 touchdowns coming into the game, Grove added to his totals right away as he capped off a seven-play, 76-yard drive with a 39-yard scoring run on fourth-and-one with 11:52 remaining in the first quarter. Grove added a 14-yard TD scamper in the first quarter and a five-yard touchdown burst in the second quarter as well to run his season total to 13 scores and his career figures to 44 touchdowns and 264 points, second all-time behind Casey Donaldson. Grove finished the game - make that the first half, since he didn't leave the sideline in the final two quarters - with 14 carries for 173 yards and three touchdowns. He was one of three Tiger players to average more than 12 yards per carry in the game.

The others were sophomore fullback Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida), who had his best game as a Tiger with 72 yards and two touchdowns on six carries, and senior tailback Jason Stephan (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville), who contributed four rushes for 54 yards and one score. Hampshire's two scores were both in the second quarter, while Stephan went 39 yards over and through the Big Red defense on the final play of the third quarter.

Rounding out the scoring for the Tigers, who held a 425-12 advantage in total yards in the first half and 564-116 in the game overall, were freshman wide receiver Jered Glover (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown), who caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) in the first quarter, and senior wide receiver Tim Horn (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas),who was on the receiving end of an eight-yard scoring hook-up with junior quarterback Kurt Forrest (Mechanicsburg, Ohio/Mechanicsburg) in the fourth quarter. Cornett wound up with an efficient 14-of-18 passing day for 187 yards and the Tigers posted 231 yards passing as a team.

Glover and junior wide receiver Skip Ivery (Columbus, Ohio/Groveport-Madison)combined for 13 catches for 178 yards to lead the Tigers. Seven different players made catches in the game and 13 different players have now caught passes this season.

Defensively, the Tigers were again led by senior linebacker Dustin Goldsbury (Columbus, Ohio/Ready), who had 10 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of four yards. Freshman linebacker Anthoni Fazio (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) added six tackles.

Denison, which is now 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the NCAC, was led offensively by quarterback Larry Cappetto, who finished with 12 completions for 98 yards. His favorite target was Frank Roe, who had five catches for 28 yards.

Wittenberg, ranked No. 4 in the nation, is now 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the NCAC. The 30th consecutive NCAC victory for the Tigers, who are vying for a sixth consecutive conference championship and fifth straight berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs, served as a final warm-up act for a huge Homecoming Weekend game against Wabash College next Saturday. The Little Giants are also 4-0 and 1-0.