Wittenberg University scored three unanswered third quarter touchdowns after a 7-all tie, and went on today to a 42-14 win over the Mount at home in the first round NCAA Division III playoffs. The Lions finish the season with a 9-2 mark while Wittenberg advances to the next round with an 11-0 record. The Lions are now 0-5 in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard nearly midway through the second quarter, when they scored on a five-yard run. The PAT kick gave Wittenberg a 7-0 advantage but the Lions tied the game at 7-all just before the half, when quarterback Craig Mustard (Mason, OH/Mason) connected with wideout Mike Zeis (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) on a 30-yard pass play. Brian Weimer (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) convered the PAT kick.
Wittenberg then took advantage of Mount mistakes to seize control of the game, scoring TDs after a blocked punt, interception and a fumble recovery, putting the Tigers in the lead, 28-7. Mustard tossed his second TD of the game early in the fourth quarter - connecting on a 32-yard pass play with Jake Davis (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) - and Weimer's PAT kick made it 28-14 but the Mount would get no closer as the Tigers scored twice more en route to the win.
The Mount was out-gained in total offense in the game, 524-226, including 315-105 on the ground. Davis led the Mount with 76 yards rushing while Mustard was 10-of-20 for 121 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. Three different receivers had two catches each for the Lkions.
Vince Smith (Middletown, OH/Middletown) had a team-high 14 tackles for the Mount.
