Aaron Huffman threw for 210 yards and Michael Cooper led Wittenberg with 123 receiving yards, as the Wittenberg Tigers left Deeds Field-Piper Stadium with a 41-7 victory over the Denison Big Red.

Wittenberg entered the game ranked 17th in the latest d3football.com top25 poll and they also boasted the nation's top defense, having allowed only 30 points through their first seven contests.  That stingy defense was on full display early on as the two teams played the opening quarter tooth-and-nail.  After two failed possessions to start the game, Wittenberg got on the scoreboard just before the end of the first quarter when Cooper turned a Huffman screen pass into a 69-yard scoring strike.

The score would remain 7-0 in favor of the Tigers nearly the entire second quarter.  Wittenberg turned in a critical 4th and 1 stop from their own eight yard line when Eddie Vallery broke through the line and sacked quarterback Brandon Taylor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) who was looking to run a draw up the middle.  Wittenberg has not given up a point in the first half all season long and that attempt by the Big Red was about as close as any team has come.

After the turnover on downs, Wittenberg put together a 15-play drive that would last 7:25 but would also end in a turnover on downs when Huffman's 4th and 15 pass from the DU 27-yard line was broken up by sophomore cornerback Drew Clanin (Circleville, Ohio/Circleville).

The Big Red took over backed up in their own territory and failed to register a first down.  The Tigers took over on their 34-yard line and began an impressive two-minute drive that would end in a Huffman 6-yard touchdown run with 52 seconds left in the second half.

After an interception by Denison quarterback Nick Stephens (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey) on the ensuing possession, Wittenberg completed one pass for 27 yards which led to a 45-yard field goal by Zack Harris as time expired in the first half.

In the third quarter Wittenberg outscored Denison 17-0 and put the game out of reach.

For the Big Red, Stephens was 15 of 26 for 94 yards and two interceptions.  Freshman Max Paulus (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) entered in the fourth quarter and led Denison on a 11-play 63 yard drive that ended when Paulus dove into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown with 14 seconds remaining on the clock, spoiling the Tiger shutout attempt.  Paulus completed one pass for 17 yards and ran the ball three times for 16 yards.

Denison's leading rusher was junior Dan Crawford (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) who finished with 10 carries for 42 yards.  Senior Nick Krempasky (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) ran the ball only five times for eight yards, but led DU in receiving with five catches for 30 yards.

Huffman finished the night 11 of 20 for 210 yards and two touchdown passes.  He also ran the ball 12 times for 51 yards and one score.  Conner Warye was the Tigers leading rusher with 79 yards off 16 carries.

Playing for injured co-captain Drew Homyk (Chicago, Ill./St. Ignatius), sophomore safety Scott Baird (Shelby, Ohio/Shelby) recorded a career-high 10 tackles.  Sophomore Adam Frudden (Mahotmedi, Minn./Mounds Park Academy) posted seven tackles and Nat Kell (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Adam Lewis (Clearwater, Fla./Dunedin) each carded 1 1/2 sacks.  Wittenberg was led by Vallery who posted 2 1/2 sacks and now holds the Tiger single-season sack record with 14.  Ben Maxwell led Witenberg in tackles with eight and Seth Parker had two of the team's three interceptions.

Denison (2-6, 1-4 NCAC) will travel to Kenyon College next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Lords.