Senior defensive back Jason Jackson (Columbus, Ohio/South) was selected to participate in the Aztec Bowl in Saltillo, Mexico. A three-timeAll-North Coast Athletic Conference selection and a four-year letterwinner for the Tigers, Jackson will play for a United States NCAA Division III All-Star team against the Mexican National Team. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, Dec. 15. The game can beheard via webcast by logging onto the American Football Coaches Association Web site (www.afca.com), Texas Sports Radio Network (www.tsrnsports.com)or www.d3football.com. Three one-hour preview shows will be broadcast on Dec. 12, 13 and 14.

The first drive of the game set the stage as Mount Union drove 68 yards on nine plays to score. The Purple Raiders led 14-0 early in the second quarter when Wittenberg made its biggest play of the game. Junior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont) put together an electrifying 64-yard TD run, set up by a devastating block by freshman fullback Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida).

That only set the stage for more Mount Union fireworks, unfortunately for the Wittenberg faithful that had made the trip to Alliance. The Purple Raiders scored two more times before the intermission to make it 28-7.

The second half was more of the same, as the Tigers and Grove made some headway against the best defense in NCAA Division III but came away with just 14 more points, both on short touchdown passes from junior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) to junior wide receiver Adrian Crane (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis). Mount Union countered three more long scoring runs to put the game away.

The Tigers made a statement against the Saints, the second seed in the North Region bracket after finishing their regular season independent schedule with a perfect 10-0 mark. Wittenberg had 22 first downs to Thomas More's seven, rolled up 303 rushing yards to TMC's 99 and recorded just the third NCAA Division III playoff shutout in the program's storied history. 

The scoring started slowly as sophomore kicker Conrad Hindert (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mariemont) booted a 30-yard field goal. The rout started in the second 15 minutes as the Tigers put together a pair of impressive drives, one at the beginning of the frame and one at the end, to move out to a commanding 17-0 halftime advantage. Junior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont), who posted his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, struck paydirt with 11:33 remaining on a 20-yard run, and senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) scored on an acrobatic13-yard catch and run with 36 seconds left in the half.

In the fourth quarter, Hindert added a 34-yard field goal, made possible by a fumble recovery by senior defensive tackle Michael Houck (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) deep in Saint territory, and then junior tailback Jason Stephan (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) capped the scoring with a four-yard TD with 4:39 left on the clock. 

Grove finished the day with 164 yards on 22 carries, while Hampshire chipped in with 55 and Stephan added 40 on 12 carries. Cornett was stellar again, going 15-of-22 for 172 yards and two touchdowns without being sacked or throwing an interception. Aljancic led all receivers with 61 yards on six catches, while sophomore Skip Ivery (Columbus, Ohio/Groveport-Madison) was big with 58 yards on four catches and Grove had three receptions for 35 yards. 

Defensively, the Tigers dominated. Senior defensive end Tim Daoust (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) had three sacks, junior linebacker Ryan Gresham (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor) topped the team with 5.5 tackles and senior safety John Hauser (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) finished with 3.5 tackles and his fifth interception of the season. 

The Tigers now must make the trip to No. 1 ranked Mt. Union for the third time in four years. The defending national champion Purple Raiders stung Wittenberg 21-19 en route to the 1998 title and then converted three first-half turnovers in last year's 32-15 NCAA quarterfinal victory as they steamed toward a fifth national crown since 1993. Mount Union is 11-0 and is coming off a 32-7 rout of No. 4 seed Augustana last Saturday at home. 

Next: 12/1 @ Mount Union, Noon
NCAA Division III Playoffs Semifinals
 

The heroes were many in this one for the Tigers, the No. 5 seed in the North Region bracket who were surprisingly forced to take the longest road trip in school history. 

Wittenberg made its first counter-punch with 3:26 left in the first quarter as junior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont) rambled four yards to paydirt to knot the score at seven. The score capped an eight-play, 94-yard drive that was highlighted by a big pass play from junior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) to senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville).

Using its punishing ground game to churn up both minutes and yards, Grove powered into the end zone twice in the third quarter to tie the score again, scoring from 18 yards out with

Grove, the North Coast Athletic Conference leader in scoring and touchdowns during the regular season, had three TDs in the game, the fifth straight time in 2001 that he has found the end zone at least three times. It was also the sixth straight 100-yard game for Grove. 

The Tigers responded to yet another seven-point deficit with a 25-yard TD strike from Cornett to Aljancic six minutes later, capping a six-play, 60-yard drive that was set up by an interception by senior linebacker Nic Black (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua). 

After HSU once again pulled ahead by a touchdown, the Tigers took over at their own 17-yard line, and offered yet another reply. This time, Wittenberg methodically worked the ball downfield and finally punched it in on fourth down on a five-yard scoring pass from Cornett to Aljancic. Sophomore kicker Conrad Hindert (Terrace Park, Ohio/Mariemont) tied the game with an extra point, setting the stage for overtime. The Tigers stopped the Cowboys on their first possession of overtime and then ran the ball three times to set up a game-winning 24-yard field goal by Hindert.

The win was Wittenberg's fourth straight in first-round NCAA Division III Playoffs. It was the second overtime game in school history, and the second time that the Tigers had prevailed against a favored playoff opponent in OT - the previous time being a 1988 first-round defeat of the University of Dayton. Grove finished with 170 yards on 32 rushes, Cornett wound up 18-of-29 for a career-high 315 yards and three touchdowns. And Aljancic had one of the greatest receiving days in Wittenberg history, snagging 10 passes for 214 yards and two scores. 

Defensively, junior linebacker Andy Pope (Hamilton, Ohio/Lakota East) and senior defensive tackle Juan Howard (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) each had 10 tackles to pace the Tigers, while Black had nine, including two for loss, and that all-important interception.

The Tigers, and many of their fans who were unable to make the long trip to Texas, now turn their attention to another school that Wittenberg has never faced on the gridiron, the Thomas More College Saints. Five-hundred tickets for the game will be on sale at Wittenberg from 5 p.m. until the end of the men's basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 20 and from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21, in the HPER Center lobby. 

The stadium at Thomas More offers just 1,000 seats in its limited bleachers area, with all seats being general admission. Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $4 for students and children under the age of 18. Gates open at 10 a.m. Anyone unable to find a seat will have to watch the game from lawn chairs that spectators are permitted to bring with them or by standing.

There will be a Wittenberg tailgate prior to the game, starting at 10 a.m. in the lawn area in front of the Connor Athletic Center on the Thomas More campus. 

Next: 11/24 @ Thomas More, Noon
NCAA Division III Playoffs Second Round

 This will be the Tigers' fourth straight trip to the NCAA Division III Playoffs and 10th overall since the division was created in 1973 (Wittenberg also won the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in 1969 as a member of the NCAA College Division). Wittenberg has won its first round game in each of the last three playoffs only to fall in the second round in 1998 and 1999 and the regional final a year ago. In 1998, the Tigers defeated Millikin and former Wittenberg head coach Doug Neihbur before falling to eventual national champion Mount Union, 21-19, in Alliance, Ohio. In 1999, the Tigers opened with a big win over Alma before falling in the second round to Ohio Northern. And last year, Wittenberg rolled to home wins over Aurora College and Hanover College before losing to Mount Union
 

 Next: 11/17 @ Hardin-Simmons, Noon
NCAA Division III Playoffs First Round

Senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) caught eight passes for 63 yards to push his season totals to a school-record 54

Junior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont), who has emerged as a tremendous offensive weapon for the Tigers. Grove carved up the Earlham defense for 204 yards on just 23 carries, good for an 8.7 yards per carry average. He added three touchdowns - a 30-yard run in the first quarter, a three-yard burst early in the fourth quarter and a game-breaking 59-yard jaunt with 8:20 left in the game.

Grove finished the season with 1,260 yards rushing, the eighth-best total in school history. In addition, Grove scored 21 touchdowns on the season, just one score short of Casey Donaldson's record-setting TD total of a year ago. For his career, Grove has 1,942 rushing yards.

Wittenberg had 354 yards rushing and 198 yards passing behind another efficient performance by junior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin), who extended his run of quarters without an interception to 19. He finished the game 19-of-27 passing for 174 yards and one touchdown. For the season, Cornett had 140 completions, just one short of the Wittenberg record set by Tim Green in 1987, and 1,872 passing yards, good for second-best in Tiger history behind Charlie Green's 1963 total of 2,181.

Defensively, Wittenberg was tremendous again, holding its fourth 2001 opponent to a single-digit scoring total. Senior linebacker Nic Black (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua) topped the team with seven tackles and senior defensive tackle Juan Howard (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) chipped in with 6.5, including two for loss. Senior defensive end Tim Daoust (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) had a half sack in the game to up his season total to eight and his career total to 27.5, tied for second-most in Wittenberg history.

A win over Earlham this weekend would be Wittenberg's 29th consecutive NCAC victory, and would give the Tigers their unprecedented fifth straight NCAC title and fourth straight outright conference crown. In addition, the Tiger seniors would become the first group of football players in school or league history to never lose a conference game in its four years.

Junior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont) continued his hot streak against Hiram with a career-high four touchdowns and 115 yards rushing, including three running scores in the first half. He added a TD on a 39-yard pass play from junior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) in the third quarter. The four TDs gave Grove an NCAC-best 18 on the season and also gave him 10 in the last three weeks.

Senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) caught three passes for 25 yards to inch closer to several school receiving records. His biggest contribution to Saturday's victory came on a reverse as he took a handoff from Grove, got a huge block from Cornett and scampered 20 yards for a first-quarter touchdown.

Defensively, it was a record-setting game for the Tigers. Hiram completed just one pass for a six-yard loss. The negative six yards passing tied an NCAA Division III record set by Central (Iowa) against Simpson in 1985.

Junior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont), who ran for a career-high 259 yards on 31 carries in the game, scored three touchdowns to run his season total to a North Coast Athletic Conference-best 14. For his dominating performance, Grove was named NCAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week.

Defensively, senior linebacker Nic Black (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua) led the charge with seven total tackles, while junior linebacker Andy Pope (Hamilton, Ohio/Lakota East) was everywhere with 6.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks for a loss of 19 yards.

The win was especially sweet for the Tigers' 13 seniors, who now have a chance to finish their careers with a 39-1 four-year record. That would tie them with last year's seniors as the winningest senior class in school history.

The Tigers can clinch at least a share of a fifth consecutive NCAC championship with a win this weekend at Hiram. An unprecedented fifth straight perfect NCAC campaign and outright conference crown will be earned with victories the last two weeks against Hiram and Earlham.

The Tigers came out firing on all cylinders, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter. Senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from 

Freshman fullback Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida) made it 40-0 with a one-yard scoring plunge midway through the third quarter and freshman tailback Alex Smith (Blue Bell, Pa./Germantown Academy), a week after going over 100 yards in just one half of action at Denison, closed the scoring for Wittenberg with a one-yard run of his own just before the third quarter ended.

The Tigers, who are in the drivers' seat for their fourth consecutive undefeated NCAC regular season and unprecendented fourth straight outright conference crown, play host to upstart Ohio Wesleyan this weekend. The Bishops, who are ranked nationally for the first time in five years, are 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the NCAC.

After three straight weeks of tense games that went down to the wire, the Tigers got a breather last Saturday with a 72-14 thrashing of Denison. The win moved the four-time defending North Coast Athletic Conference champion Tigers to 3-0 in the NCAC standings and extended their record-setting conference win streak to 25.

The game was over almost before it began. After the two teams traded long touchdown passes early in the first quarter, Wittenberg ripped off 42 straight points before halftime to begin the march to its 12th straight win over Denison in a series that dates back to 1901. Nine different players scored touchdowns in the game, including senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville), junior wide receiver Adrian Crane (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis), sophomore wide receiver Skip Ivery (Columbus, Ohio/Groveport-Madison), junior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont), senior linebacker Nic Black (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua), junior tailback Jason Stephan (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville), freshman fullback Raymar Hampshire (Lima, Ohio/Elida), junior fullback Trent Coffman (Springfield, Ohio/Northeastern) and freshman tailback Alex Smith (Blue Bell, Pa./Germantown Academy), who saw his first college action in the second half and ran for 107 yards and two scores on 19 carries.

Wittenberg now heads to the College of Wooster this weekend. The Scots are the last NCAC team to beat Wittenberg, on Nov. 4, 1997.

The Tigers struggled to move the ball on offense all day, so they finally took to the air to claim one of the most thrilling football victories in recent memory over visiting Allegheny College, 21-17, before a Homecoming crowd of 3,509 last Saturday. Wittenberg, ranked No. 19 in the country and riding a 23-game North Coast Athletic Conference win streak, came from 10 points behind on a pair of touchdown passes from junior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) to Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville), the last one coming with just 16 seconds on the clock. The win moved the Tigers, the four-time defending North Coast Athletic Conference champions, to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

After taking an early 7-0 lead, Wittenberg fell behind by 10 points in the fourth quarter before the offense finally got untracked to go 58 yards on six plays before Cornett hooked up with Aljancic from four yards out with 6:37 left to play. The Cornett to Aljancic connection produced 45 of those 58 yards on three receptions. The Tigers then came up with another defensive stand and took possession of the ball again with 2:42 remaining. All they did from that point was convert four third downs in a drive that took 2:26 off the clock, culminating in a game-winning six-yard touchdown pass from Cornett to Aljancic with 16 seconds left.

Aljancic caught 11 passes for 130 yards in the game, 10 of them for 105 yards in the second half alone. He is closing in on several Wittenberg receiving records, including yards, receptions and touchdowns, all of which he ranks in the top three in school history. And the 11 receptions were one short of the 27-year-old school record of 12 set by Ron Duncan, a 2001 Athletics Hall of Honor inductee.

All of those accomplishments earned Aljancic NCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

One week after their school-record 33-game regular season win streak came to an end at Alma College, the Tigers rebounded to swarm the visiting Wabash Little Giants 14-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Wittenberg, which has not lost consecutive games since the 1991 season, extended its regular season home win streak to 32 consecutive dating back to 1996 and its NCAC win streak to 23 straight dating back to 1997. Trailing 3-0 after a Wabash field goal on its first possession, Wittenberg came back to take the lead for good as junior tailback Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont) had a one-yard touchdown run that was set up by an interception by senior cornerback Jason Jackson (Columbus, Ohio/South). The Tigers' only other score came on a three-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Greg Cornett (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) to senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) in the third quarter, which was set up by a 59-yard kickoff return by junior Jason Stephan (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville).

The Tiger defense held Wabash to 93 yards rushing, 198 yards passing, just 2-of-12 on third down conversions and 0-for-3 on fourth-down conversions. Junior defensive end Allen D'Andrea (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) and senior linebacker Nic Black (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua) led the Tigers with eight tackles each in the game. Offensively, Aljancic had another fine all-around game as he moved to No. 2 in Wittenberg history in career receptions and receiving yards and No. 3 in receiving touchdowns.

The Wittenberg football team got a jolt over the weekend, losing its first regular season game since Nov. 4, 1997. The nationally ranked Tigers fell at Alma College 26-24 on a field goal with 2:20 remaining in the game and then falling one yard short of a crucial first down at the Alma 38-yard-line on the ensuing drive.

In the loss, which comes on the heels of blowout home victories over Urbana and Heidelberg to open the season, several Wittenberg players did play very well. Junior defensive end Allen D'Andrea (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) had a team-high nine tackles, including three sacks. Junior running back Daniel Grove (Uhrichsville, Ohio/Claymont) had his second straight 100-yard game and scored two touchdowns in his third straight game. And senior wide receiver Michael Aljancic (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) caught 10 passes - just two short of the Wittenberg record - for 143 yards.

Next up for the Tigers is a seven-game North Coast Athletic Conference schedule that will determine the team's postseason fate, beginning with Saturday's home contest opposite Wabash College, which is 1-1 on the season thus far. Last year, Wittenberg defeated the Little Giants 41-10 in a bizarre game that featured two lengthy delays and a change of venue.