Wittenberg Shuts Out Earlham, 48-0

RICHMOND, Ind. — You don't win football games without a good defense. Whether or not the Wittenberg Tigers have improved enough on that side of the ball to be a factor in the North Coast Athletic Conference title chase remains to be seen, but for the second straight week Wittenberg made a defensive statement.

After allowing 38 points or more in each of the first three games - against outstanding offensive teams averaging that amount or more through the midway point of the 2005 season - Wittenberg has held the last two foes to a combined six points, including Saturday's 48-0 whitewashing of Earlham. The win, Wittenberg's 15th straight over Earlham since the two schools joined the NCAC together in 1989, moved the Tigers to 2-3 overall and, more importantly, 2-0 in the conference. Earlham dropped to 1-5 overall and 0-3.

The Tiger defense limited Earlham, playing without record-setting quarterback Justin Rummell for the rest of the 2005 season due to injury, to 232 total yards a week after holding Denison to just six points and 254 total yards. Just as significant was the turnover margin - Wittenberg's defense had generated just one interception through its first four games, but the Tigers made four interceptions and recovered two fumbles against Earlham.

Offensively, the Tigers showed good balance in rolling up 507 total yards, by far a season high. While senior tailback Tristan Murray and sophomore fullback Andy Vanover were up to their usual standards in this game, the headline is unquestionably the fact that senior quarterback Ryan Holmes saw his first action since opening week after suffering a collarbone injury to his non-throwing shoulder. After junior Geron Stokes made his second start, Holmes saw action in parts of three quarters, alternating with Stokes and combining with him to throw for 247 passing yards, also a season high.

Stokes completed 9-of-13 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, a 48-yard catch and run by Vanover in the first quarter and a 24-yard hook-up with senior tight end Jon Kirkwood in the fourth. Holmes completed 6-of-12 passes for 74 yards and an 11-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Jered Glover in the fourth quarter. He showed rust, however, tossing a pair of interceptions.

When rotating quarterbacks, it always helps to have a steady ground game, and Murray was as good as ever on Saturday, topping the 100-yard mark for the fourth straight week. The leading ground-gainer in the NCAC, Murray rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries, in addition to a 17-yard reception. In addition, Vanover had his finest game as a collegian, rushing for 36 yards on 11 carries and gaining another 90 on three catches, both career highs.

The Tigers' top receiver on the day was Glover, who became the university's all-time leading receiver with four catches for 29 yards. He came into the game tied with Michael Aljancic, who caught 147 passes from 1998-2001.

Defensively, the stats were spread around, but worthy of mention for a fifth straight game was the performance by junior safety Mitch Fonseca. His three tackles were eight below his season average, but he intercepted two passes and returned them a combined 60 yards. Earlham's six turnovers were converted into 28 points, including back-to-back errors in the third quarter that turned a 14-0 halftime advantage for Wittenberg into a 28-0 rout. Junior linebacker Tyler Harmon and senior defensive tackle Tyler Jenkins led the Tigers with seven tackles each, including six solos for Jenkins, a career high.

The Tigers are back in action on their home turf next Saturday against Hiram, a 7-2 winner over Earlham a week ago and 53-6 loser to Denison this week. The Terriers have never beaten Wittenberg, which is bidding for a 3-0 start to the conference schedule heading into a make-or-break road trip to Wabash on Oct. 22.