Posted September 2, 2002
Posted by: Ryan Maurer

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Dane Dudley makes a tackle against Albion in the Tigers' 44-7 season-opening victory.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg University Tigers opened the 2002 season in extraordinary fashion, dominating what was expected to be a formidable opponent, the Albion College Britons, to the tune of 44-7 at Edwards-Maurer Field.

The fifth-ranked Tigers, the preseason favorite to win an unprecedented sixth consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference championship, used several big offensive plays and a dominating defensive effort to win the game going away in the first meeting between the two teams. Albion, the defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion, never got untracked offensively, managing just 203 net yards, while Wittenberg almost reached that number on two plays.

The first of those plays was a stunner at the 6:57 mark of the first quarter. Senior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) hit junior wide receiver Skip Ivery (Columbus, Ohio/Groveport-Madison) down the sidelines and the NCAC track champion was off to the races 94 yards to paydirt. The hook-up, the longest pass play in Wittenberg history, came just two plays after the Tigers had forced an Albion fumble at the one-yard-line.

After a 24-yard Jacob Thomas (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) field goal made it 10-0 just before the end of the first quarter, Wittenberg's defense jumped to the forefront again. Senior linebacker Dustin Goldsbury (Columbus, Ohio/Ready) intercepted a pass and took it 19 yards to the end zone. After the defense stopped Albion again, it was senior tailback Daniel GroveÕs (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont) turn as he went 77 yards for the first of his four scores in the game.

Grove added a one-yard tally, but he then fumbled deep in Wittenberg territory just before the half, leading to Albion's lone score, a six-yard TD pass from Mike Gough to Adam Auvenshine.

The second half was a quick one as Wittenberg stayed on the ground on offense and continued to dominate on defense. Grove scored on a two-yard sweep at the 5:36 mark of the third quarter and then he finished off the Britons with a 94-yard touchdown run with 9:27 left in the fourth stanza. That run ranks No. 2 in school history for rushing plays.

Grove finished with 233 yards on 25 carries, and he moved into the top 10 in school history in career rushing and scoring. Cornett was efficient as usual, tossing 14 completions in 19 attempts for 227 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked once and intercepted once. Leading the charge in the receiving category were Ivery, who finished with three receptions for 122 yards, and senior Adrian Crane (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis), who had four catches for 33 yards.

As a team, the Tigers ran up 310 yards rushing and 547 yards of total offense. Albion managed just 85 yards passing on 11 completions and 203 total yards.

The Britons were paced by Shaun Moon's 56 yards on 13 carries and Adam AuvenshineÕs three catches for 39 yards. Quarterback Mike Gough had a tough debut, finishing with 11 completions on 30 attempts for 85 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Wittenberg was led by Goldsbury's four solo tackles and four assists. Senior linebacker Andy Pope (Hamilton, Ohio/Lakota East) chipped in with three solos and six assists.

The Tigers return to nonconference action next Saturday at Urbana at 7:30 p.m. Their next home game is Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. against the Denison University Big Red. That is the NCAC opener for both teams.