Everyone had to wonder who would make a play for the Tigers on Saturday at Allegheny. For the first time since 2008, they found themselves trailing in a regular-season game, on a field where several Wittenberg seasons have died. How would players so used to lopsided victories react with the game on the line in the final minutes?
Quite well, as it turned out.
The No. 6 Tigers played their best in the fourth quarter and rallied from a 14-10 deficit to win 24-21 at Frank B. Fuhrer Field. It’s the 14th straight regular-season victory for Wittenberg (4-0, 2-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) and the 130th career win for head coach Joe Fincham, who moved past Dave Maurer in the Wittenberg record books.
“Every championship team I’ve been around has had to win one of these games,” Fincham said. “You play a quality opponent that just plays better than you did, and you find a way to steal it. I’m not saying we stole it, but we found a way to win.”
Several plays turned the momentum for the Tigers.
In the final minute of the third quarter with Allegheny holding a 14-10 lead, cornerback Keenan Freeman intercepted a T.J. Salopek pass.
Wittenberg took over, but quickly found itself facing 3rd-and-22 at the Allegheny 40-yard line. Ben Zoeller threw a deep ball to Michael Cooper down the right sideline, and Cooper made an acrobatic catch at the 7 to keep the drive alive.
“Coach called my number. I knew it was coming to me,” Cooper said. “They blitzed the corner, which was perfect, and Ben gave me a good ball. He put it where he trusted me to go make a play. I was blessed to be able to do it.”
Zoeller ran it in one play later to give Wittenberg a 17-14 lead. On Wittenberg’s next possession, after the defense forced a three-and-out, Zoeller scrambled to find McKee for a 20-yard gain on 3rd-and-12. Then Zoeller hit McKee in the back of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Allegheny responded with its most impressive drive of the game, cutting the lead to 24-21 with 4:45 to play. But Wittenberg downed a punt at the 3-yard line in the final minutes, and the Gators ran out of time on their final drive.
“It’s a great feeling,” Zoeller said. “I’ve been to state championship games and played in big games, but this one really feels good.”
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