Wittenberg clinchs playoff spot, NCAC title share with win

QB runs for 3 TDs and throws another en route to 52-10 win over Allegheny.

Wittenberg linebacker Zach Hurtt and his teammates sing the fight song to the fans at Edwards-Maurer Field after a 52-10 victory over Allegheny on Saturday, Nov. 7. Staff photo by David Jablonski

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer Updated 4:37 PM Sunday, November 8, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Surrounded by his team, ready to turn the players loose to sing the fight song to the fans at Edwards-Maurer Field, Joe Fincham had one more thing to say.

“How ’bout dem Tigers!” the coach shouted.

It was more an exclamation than a question, but if he had phrased it as a question, the answer would be, “Pretty, pretty good.”

The undefeated Tigers flattened Allegheny 52-10 on Saturday, Nov. 7, to clinch a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Wittenberg (9-0, 6-0 NCAC) can record its first 10-0 season since 2000 and clinch its first outright league title since 2001 by beating Wooster in its regular-season finale Saturday, Nov. 14. If the Tigers lose to Wooster, they would tie Wabash for the title, but still get the automatic playoff berth by having beaten the Little Giants in October.

“I’m not good at sharing,” running back Conner Warye said. “No one wants to share a conference championship. We’ve got to get focused. We’ll obviously enjoy this win, but we’ve got a big one next week at home as well.”

Said Fincham, “Our guys, from the seniors on down, have really sacrificed a lot and worked really hard. There’s nothing wrong with being a little selfish in those terms. I’m glad that’s the way they feel.”

Allegheny (7-2, 4-2 NCAC) came into the game with visions of moving into a first-place tie. It left with its worst loss to the Tigers since a 49-3 defeat in Springfield in 2002.

A lot of that had to do with the play of Wittenberg’s senior quarterback, Aaron Huffman. He passed for 299 yards, rushed for three touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass to Michael Cooper. Huffman had 255 passing yards in the first half alone, and all his touchdown runs came before halftime as the Tigers built a 24-7 lead.

“It feels great,” Huffman said. “We have one more left. Obviously, that’s where the focus goes right after the game. It’s definitely too early to celebrate.”

Since starting the first game of his freshman season, Huffman has proved to be as dangerous with his feet as with his arm. But he had never rushed for three touchdowns in one game until Saturday.

“We kind of game-planned for that,” Huffman said. “They didn’t adjust to it. We just kept running it. The line did a great job.”

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