Tigers Break Out With Big Win Over OWU

Wittenberg Football JJ Miller
JJ Miller | Photo by Michael Fenning
September 20, 2025
Box Score

DELAWARE, OH - The Wittenberg Tigers put together a complete performance in a 55-17 dismantling of host Ohio Wesleyan in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) opener for both teams.

After spotting the Battling Bishops an early 3-0 lead, the Tigers blitzed OWU for 41 unanswered points through the middle of the third quarter. For the game, Wittenberg rolled up a season-high 545 yards of total offense, powered by a big game both throwing and running for quarterback JJ Miller (Amelia, OH / Williamsburg).

Miller scored three touchdowns rushing, and he threw for another. He finished an efficient 17-of-25 through the air for 296 yards, and he added 78 yards on the ground on 10 carries.

Miller was among four Tiger ballcarriers to reach the end zone in the game. He was joined by Jaheim Hudson (Sun CIty, FL / Sumner), who had 40 yards and a touchdown on 13 rushes, Josiah Payne (Dayton, OH / Chaminade Julienne), who finished with 31 yards and a score on five carries, and T.J. Meeks (Springfield, OH / Shawnee), who hit paydirt on one of his three totes.

Miller's favorite target through the air was tight end Adam Polacko (Oakwood, OH / Oakwood), who caught three passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Nikhai Daniel (Locust Grove, GA / Locust Grove) added 81 yards on five catches, Henry Jones (Cumming, GA / Landmark Christian) chipped in with five catches for 63 yards, and Brody Graham (Cape Coral, FL / Barron Collier) made his lone grab in the game a memorable one as he capped the game's scoring with a 59-yard TD from quarterback Ryan Counts (Southfield, MI / Wylie E Groves).

Defensively, Trenton Carter (Carmichaels, PA / Carmichaels Area) had a big game with a team-high 10 tackles, including a whopping four for loss. Tyre Smith (Sarasota, FL / Riverview) added nine tackles and two pass break-ups, and Joseph Babusci (Cranberry Township, PA / Seneca Valley) contributed seven tackles and a quarterback hurry.

The win moved Wittenberg to 2-1 on the season, heading into a Homecoming, Reunion & Family Weekend match-up against nationally ranked DePauw on September 27. Ohio Wesleyan fell to 1-2.

Written By: Ryan Maurer