If Head Coach Joe Fincham has proven anything in his 18-year run leading the Wittenberg football program, it is that he can keep the Tigers playing at a high level year after year. He has 10 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championships to his credit, including four in the last five years, and his teams have averaged nine wins per season.

The challenge in 2014 figures to be significant. After reaching the second round of the 2013 NCAA Division III Tournament and spending the entire season ranked in the top 25, Wittenberg returns 39 letterwinners, including 12 starters. However, departed are 12 of the 19 Tigers who earned All-NCAC designations following the 2013 campaign, including record-setting quarterback Reed Florence and his top three wide receivers.

Junior quarterback Zack Jenkins (Frostproof, Fla./Frostproof) is the leading contender to start at the position after two years as Florence’s apprentice. He was effective in a back-up role in 2013, throwing for 53 yards and two touchdowns and running for 144 yards and three scores.

He has two outstanding tailbacks to lean on as juniors Sean Gary (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) and Jimmy Dehnke (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) return. They split the load almost evenly in 2013, combining for 1, 495 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground and another 260 yards and three scores on 25 receptions. Three starters on the offensive line are set to return as well, led by All-American senior tackle Aaron Coeling (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville).

Coeling will be joined by 2013 first-team all-league choice Alec Nutting (Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland), a junior, and two-year starter Tyler Compston (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield), a senior. Sophomore Kennedy Cook (Maineville, Ohio/Kings), junior Austin Reschley (Leo, Ind./Leo), sophomore Keylahn Hodo (Indianapolis, Ind./Cardinal Ritter), sophomore Jacob Cox (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) and junior Tyler Jeffers (Jackson, Ohio/Jackson) are among the candidates to fill the open positions, while seniors Clay Mangen (Union, Ohio/Northmont) and Mac Donaldson (Springfield, Ohio/Greenon) are the top returners at the tight end position.

The receiving corps will be led by senior two-sport standout Zac Wilson (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton), who hauled in 37 passes for 571 yards a year ago. Juniors Zach Culvahouse (Fort Myers, Fla./Estero) and Corey Stump (Lima, Ohio/Central Catholic) are leading candidates to fill the other starting spots after each caught eight passes in 2013.

Fincham must replace five starters on defense, but he has a pair of linebackers returning to the lineup who figure to step into leadership roles in seniors Evan Killilea (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) and Nick Gibson (Marysville, Ohio/Fairbanks), who ranked second and third on the team a year ago in tackles, respectively. Junior Caden Leichty (Versailles, Ohio/Versailles), freshman Austin Towsey (Lima, Ohio/Senior), freshman Scott Sholar (Indianapolis, Ind./Cardinal Ritter), senior Dwight Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) and junior DeVonta Anderson (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) are also vying for playing time in 2014.

Junior tackle Josh Bannick (Enon, Ohio/Greenon) is back after an all-conference performance in 2013 to anchor the defensive line. After ranking fifth on the team with 59 tackles a year ago, Bannick will be joined by the Tigers’ 2013 Rookie of the Year, sophomore end Brady Vanover (Maineville, Ohio/Kings). Vanover was among the team leaders a year ago with 10 tackles for loss, including four sacks. Sophomore Nathan Krohne (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) also returns after excelling in a back-up role in 2013.

The secondary features a pair of returning cornerbacks in senior Victor Banjo (Sugarland, Texas/Stephen F. Austin), who had three interceptions and four blocked kicks a year ago, and junior Ryan Myers (Palm Harbor, Fla./University). Options at safety include junior Winston Thomas (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy), sophomore Timmy James (Cincinnati, Ohio/Madeira) and senior Gabe Cunningham (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) after all played key roles as reserves last season, while junior Armon Murray (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) is in the mix as a corner.

The kicking game figures to be solid again with the return of junior Evan Grissom (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua), who hit 62-of-63 extra points and 7-of-9 field goals in 2013, and sophomore Will Gingery (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley), who averaged 37.4 yards per punt in his first collegiate campaign. Junior Taylor Gannon (New Carlisle, Ohio/Catholic Central) provides depth at both positions.

2014 At A Glance

Letterwinners Returning: 39
17 offense – Jimmy Dehnke, Zach Culvahouse, Zac Wilson, Zack Jenkins, Corey Stump, Will Stocker, Sean Gary, Mac Donaldson, Clay Mangen, Austin Reschly, Kennedy Cook, Tyler Compston, Aaron Coeling, Keylahn Hodo, Alec Nutting, Jacob Cox, Tyler Jeffers
19 defense – Victor Banjo, Armon Murray, Winston Thomas, Timmy James, Ryan Myers, Gabe Cunningham, Eric Hood, Dwight Hill, DeVonta Anderson, Scott Sholar, Jake Kelly, Nick Gibson, Evan Killilea, Austin Towsey, William Norelia, Caden Leichty, Josh Bannick, Nathan Krohne, Brady Vanover
3 special teams – Taylor Gannon, Evan Grissom, Will Gingery

Letterwinners Lost: 28
15 offense – JaVanh Sanders, Reed Florence, Noah Johanson, Pat Barton, Mike Waring, Brad Frilling, Matt Widemon, Tyson Agler, Adam Klever, Clay Hill, Brendon Cunningham, Jonathan Stoner, Desi Kirkman, Stephen Zumdick, Jace Humphreys
13 defense – Dan Baker, Heath Eby, Raphael Allen, Brandon Mitchell, Mark Swope, Kyle Sanning, Spencer Leno, Tyler Slade, Wes Thompson, Erick Collins, Tyler Visagie, Max Dehnke, Josh Montgomery
0 special teams

Starters Returning: 12
4 offense – RB Sean Gary, OL Tyler Compston, OL Aaron Coeling, OL Alec Nutting
6 defense – CB Victor Banjo, CB Ryan Myers, LB Nick Gibson, LB Evan Killilea, DT Josh Bannick, DE Brady Vanover
2 special teams – K Evan Grissom, P Will Gingery

Starters Lost: 12
7 offense – QB Reed Florence, OL Matt Widemon, OL Adam Klever, WR Brendon Cunningham, WR Jonathan Stoner, WR Desi Kirkman, TE Stephen Zumdick
5 defense – S Heath Eby, S Mark Swope, DE Kyle Sanning, LB Spencer Leno, DT Josh Montgomery
0 special teams