That stat is more impressive when you consider he did it in 10 games. The Wittenberg record for passing yards in a regular season had stood since 1963. Charlie Green, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, passed for 2,181 yards in 1963.
Today’s records include playoff games, and that’s how Aaron Huffman (2,737 yards in 13 games in 2009) and Greg Cornett (2,464 in 12 games in 2002) passed Green. Zoeller can add to his total at noon Saturday when the Tigers (10-0) open the NCAA Division III playoffs against Ohio Northern (9-1) in Ada.
“He’s shown a lot of maturity,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Andy Mitchel said. “He surprises me at times. I thought going into the year that with the way he came on at the end of last year and with the receivers he has and the players around him, he could have a nice year if he could manage the game.
“I didn’t doubt he could throw the ball. He’s done a nice job of not forcing things. He’s been real efficient with the ball. On offense, that’s what we want our quarterback to do.”
Zoeller struggled early against Wooster, completing 2 of his first 13 passes with an interception. With the game slipping away from the Tigers, he found his touch. His final pass, an 18-yard strike to Anthony Kralich that set up the winning touchdown run from 4 yards out by Zoeller, came with a defender in his face.
“Coach (Mitchel) just told us to relax and take what they give us, just like we did against Wabash,” Zoeller said. “They were dropping everyone in pass situations. We just had to find the seams, and the receivers had to work hard to get open, and they did. They made the catches when it counted.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.
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