Witt as dominant as ever in opener

Zoeller throws four TD passes in first start, and defense gives up just one score.

Wittenberg's Brendon Cunningham runs the ball during the Tigers' season opener Saturday, Sept. 4, against Olivet College at Edwards-Maurer Field in Springfield. Wittenberg won 48-6. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara J. Perenic Wittenberg's Brendon Cunningham runs the ball during the Tigers' season opener Saturday, Sept. 4, against Olivet College at Edwards-Maurer Field in Springfield. Wittenberg won 48-6. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

ENLARGE PHOTO

Bengals' Maualuga charged with assault
2/11/12
Raiders drop to 8th place in league with loss
2/11/12
UD women faces off against tough St. Bonaventure team
2/11/12
Dixie tops Carlisle to halt 4-game skid
2/11/12
Local Scoreboard for Feb. 11
2/10/12
> More sports headlines

By David Jablonski, Staff Writer Updated 12:13 PM Sunday, September 5, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Wittenberg football turned back the clock with a dominant performance worthy of 2009, while showing that 2010 could be even better.

The No. 8 Tigers crushed Olivet College 48-6 on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Edwards-Maurer Field. The curtain rose on the new season to show the same, old Tigers (12-1 a season ago) standing behind it.

“The same old feeling, never going to miss it,” said junior linebacker Zach Hurtt, talking about running onto the turf for the first time. “We really came together this past week. All the keys were working.”

Wittenberg scored touchdowns on its first four possessions and on six of seven possessions in the first half. The defense, led by linebacker Brad McKinley’s eight tackles, didn’t allow a first down in the first quarter and gave up just one drive of more than five plays in the game.

In his first start, junior Ben Zoeller completed 13-of-18 passes for 206 yards with four touchdowns, two to Josh McKee and two to Michael Cooper.

McKee’s 57-yard touchdown reception on the second play of the game got the rout rolling.

“I didn’t think the ball was going to me,” said McKee, who had four catches for 96 yards, “but we had talked before the game about it, that if the corner sits, he’s going to throw it to me no matter what. That’s exactly what happened.”

McKee fought the defender off with a stiff arm to reach the end zone.

“There’s no words for it,” Zoeller said. “It just got me going. Once we had that, we were on the right track. Everyone settled in after that. That set the tone for the game.”

There was some uncertainty on Wittenberg’s sideline early in the game. Olivet went 0-10 last season, but has a new coach. The Tigers didn’t know what Olivet would throw at them.

“We weren’t sure how they were going to line up,” Wittenberg coach Joe Fincham said. “I think probably the guys that deserve a little bit of a pat on the back are our secondary and our O-line for hanging in there early until we got settled in.”

Corey Weber, who ran for 74 yards on 15 carries, added two touchdown runs in the second quarter. The Tigers led 42-6 at halftime and tacked on two field goals in the second half with the second-string and third-string players on the field.

The defense pitched a second-half shutout after giving up a rare first-half score. Last year, it gave up just seven points in the first quarter all season.

“We’re going to forget about it,” Hurtt said. “We won the game. That’s our main goal. But (the touchdown) definitely hurts. We want to be a defense that’s known for its shutouts and its dominance.”

Share this article