SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—#20 Wittenberg rattled off 24 unanswered points at home on Saturday to down the #10 Wabash Little Giants. The Tigers allowed Wabash to throw two touchdowns in the first eight minutes of action at Edwards-Maurer Field, but it was Wittenberg's defense and a timely offensive attack that propelled the team past its arch-rival in the end. Wittenberg's defense produced stop after stop after the first eight minutes of the game, giving the team's young quarterback, Jake Kennedy, the confidence and poise he needed to settle in and guide the offense. The defensive unit forced Wabash into ten punts and two turnovers in the game and held the Little Giant's plethora of running backs to 84 yards on the ground after averaging 384 yards a game in wins over Albion and Allegheny. Dustin Holmes led the defensive charge for Wittenberg, amassing 22 tackles including nine solo hits.
GAME BREAKDOWN
- Wittenberg fell victim to an opening drive half-back pass, as the second play of the game went 75 yards in the air for a Wabash touchdown.
- In the blink of an eye, Wabash not only got the ball back, but scored quickly on a passing play to their tight end to go up 14-0.
- Kennedy and company did not give up in the first half, continuing to make adjustments for a Wabash defense that through just about everything in the kitchen sink and the sophomore signal caller.
- Luke Landis became Kennedy's safety net early on in the second half, as the senior wide-out hauled in two dimes from his quarterback for touchdowns.
- Kennedy and Landis first connected at the end of an eight play drive that went 70 yards, cutting the score to 14-7 in the second half.
- Between Landis' two scores, Luke Bowling got open for a 26 yards reception, as the senior went up high over a Little Giant corner back to knot things up at 14-14.
- With 45 ticks left in the third quarter, Landis burnt his defender, going 26 yards to the house to go up 21-14.
- Wittenberg added on to their lead with less than four minutes to play in the game, as senior kicker Will Gingery chipped in an 18 yard field goal to go up 24-14.
DEFENSIVE STRONGHOLD
- The Tigers rose to the occasion after scuffling early on in the NCAC rivalry, as the unit shut down Wabash's offense on all accounts in the second half.
- Holmes could be found rallying up his troops on the sidelines at the end of the first half, as the senior linebacker had his unit playing inspired football all afternoon.
- Gingery set his defense up for success time and time again, as the punter amassed 429 yards punting, pinning Wabash inside the ten yard line over and over again.
- Chandler Ferko was a force to be reckoned with on Saturday, picking up one one and a half tackles for a loss, including one sack and two quarterback hurries on Saturday, as Wabash's quarterback could not get anything going all afternoon.
- Jack Kayser came up big when it mattered for the Tigers, picking off a Wabash pass and returning it ten yards, as well as recording 12 tackles in the game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
CLIP OF THE GAME
@wittfootball #TigerUp pic.twitter.com/gYNe2mYkny
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) September 24, 2016
UP NEXT
- Wittenberg returns to action next Saturday at 2PM as the Tigers hit the road to take on the College of Wooster.