Springfield, Ohio – Just months after winning a fourth North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title in the last five years, experts again believe the Wittenberg University football team has what it takes to make a run at a national championship. The publishers of Lindy’s 2014 College Football Preview ranked the Tigers 14th in their NCAA Division III preseason poll, while publishers of The Sporting News ranked the Tigers 20th in their NCAA Division III preseason poll.
Wittenberg is no stranger to preseason or postseason accolades, so the weight of expectations figures to be nothing new around historic Edwards-Maurer Field, where the Tigers open the 2014 season against NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) power Butler on Saturday, Sept. 6. A year ago, the Tigers posted their second straight 10-2 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 16th time since the inception of the competition in 1973.
While the goals remain the same, the cast of characters on the field will be much different in 2014 as Head Coach Joe Fincham welcomes 12 starters and a total of 39 letterwinners back to the roster. There is plenty of talent returning, however, starting with a pair of All-NCAC running backs who figure to see an increased workload in 2014.
Juniors Jimmy Dehnke (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) and Sean Gary (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) combined for 1,495 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing and another 260 yards and three scores on 25 receptions in 2013. Their presence figures to ease the transition for a new starter at quarterback, potentially junior Zack Jenkins (Frostproof, Fla./Frostproof), an untested receiving corps led by senior slot receiver Zac Wilson (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton), who hauled in 37 passes for 571 yards a year ago, and a rebuilt offensive line, led by fifth-year senior tackle Aaron Coeling (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville), a third-team All-American in 2013.
Defensively, the Tigers welcome six starters back to the line-up, starting with a pair of fifth-year seniors in linebacker Evan Killilea (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) and cornerback Victor Banjo (Sugarland, Texas/Stephen F. Austin). Junior defensive tackle Josh Bannick (Enon, Ohio/Greenon), a first-team All-NCAC selection a year ago, is another key piece for Fincham to build around in 2014.
Wittenberg heads into the 2014 season seeking its NCAC-best 13th title since joining the conference in 1989. After opening the campaign against Butler, the Tigers will embark on their league championship defense with a Family Weekend home game against DePauw at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.
Written By: Ryan Maurer