Wittenberg Tops Hiram On Senior Recognition Day

For 13 Wittenberg University football players, their final game as collegiate seniors turned into a landslide victory and a record-setting day.

November 10, 2007

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — For 13 Wittenberg University football players, their final game as collegiate seniors turned into a landslide victory and a record-setting day. The Tigers soundly defeated North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) foe Hiram College, 70-20, to put the finishing touches on the team's best record since 2003. With the victory, the Tigers finish the regular season with an 8-2 overall record, the same record as the 2003 team, and a 5-1 conference mark.

Leading the way for the record breaking day was senior kicker Mark Porter (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland), who needed eight points to pass Ryan Walker, class of 2001, as the school's all-time career points leader for kickers. With the Tigers scoring 10 touchdowns on the day, Porter put all 10 extra point attempts through the uprights, enabling him to pass Walker.

Porter was not the only Tiger setting records, though, as junior wide receiverPatrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) caught eight passes to overtake Michael Aljancic, class of 2002, to become the Tigers' new leader for receptions in a season with 56. Aljancic hauled in 54 passes in 2001.

While senior running back Andy Vanover (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) did not set any records, he certainly finished his career on a high note, rushing for 76 yards and three touchdowns. Vanover finished the regular season with a team-best 12 touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Aaron Huffman (Newark, Ohio/Newark) also put up big offensive numbers and had one of his best days as a collegian. He finished the day completing 13 of his 15 pass attempts, good for a .867 completion percentage, the second-highest single game completion percentage for a quarterback in Tiger history. Huffman's 13 completions went for 274 yards and three touchdowns. With those 274 yards, Huffman finished the season with 2,052 yards, becoming just the fourth quarterback in team history to collect over 2,000 passing yards in a season.

While it was certainly a day of offensive firepower, the defense played a role in the victory as well. Sophomore cornerback Brandyn Brown (Louisville, Ky./Male)intercepted his fourth pass of the season, tying him for tops on the team. Freshman cornerback Jeb Pencil (North Hampton, Ohio/Northwestern) also blocked a Hiram punt, his second block of the season. Freshman linebacker Brad McKinley (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) turned his usual performance as well, leading the Tigers with eight tackles. Finally, six Tigers recorded sacks or partial sacks.

The Terriers competed well and scored points against Wittenberg for the first time in eight NCAC games against the Tigers. Junior quarterback Trevor Henderson completed 22 of his whopping 55 pass attempts, and he threw for a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Matt Wilson also threw for a touchdown. On the receiving end of most of Henderson and Wilson's passes was freshman wide receiver Glenn Campbell, who hauled in 13 passes, good for 155 yards and a touchdown. Hiram's only previous points against Wittenberg came in 1920, part of an 82-7 Tiger victory.

The Tigers have wrapped up the regular season with a second place finish in the NCAC, and are looking to see if they are granted an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. If the Tigers get into the tournament, it would be their second straight trip into the postseason.

Written By: Sarah Fetters