#14 Wittenberg Falls to Denison 24-21 on Late Field Goal

#14 Wittenberg Falls to Denison 24-21 on Late Field Goal

GRANVILLE, Ohio--#14 Wittenberg football was upset by Denison University on the road Saturday night. The Tigers had their opportunities to pull away from Denison in the forms of Big Red fumbles, muffed punts and an interception, but Wittenberg could not overcome miscues of their own, falling on a late field goal 24-21. The Big Red victory is the first over the Tigers since 1989. The loss puts the Tigers at 5-1 and 4-1 in North Coast Athletic Conference Play.

GAME BREAKDOWN

  • Jake Kennedy used his legs for six to get the Tigers an early lead on the opening drive for the Tigers, as the drive lasted four plays for 74 yards to go up 7-0.  
  • Denison answered with two touchdowns of their own to take a 14-7 lead into halftime on their home turf.
  • The Big Red coughed up the ball on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, setting the Tigers up with a short-field early on. 
  • Luke Bowling caught a perfectly placed fade from Kennedy to knot things up at 14 after the Denison miscue.
  • With five minutes to play, the Tigers found themselves down 21-14 and faced with a third and long situation knocking on the red-zone's door.
  • Luke Landis lost his defender on a broken-play, toe-tapping the sideline at the seven yard-line, hauling in an improbable pass and throw to keep the Tigers hopes alive.
  • Kennedy finished the drive for the Tigers, as the sophomore quarterback trotted his way between his lineman into the end-zone for a game tying four-yard touchdown run.
  • With 21-ticks left on the clock, Denison's kicker sent a 33 yard field goal through the uprights to cap off an 11 play, 56 yard drive for the home team.

KEY STATS

  • Saturday nights battle of unbeaten NCAC teams featured four fumbles, three interceptions, and two muffed punts.
  • After recovering Denison's second fumble of the half, Wittenberg coughed the ball up after looking to score inside the ten-yard line.
  • Denison produced 490 yards of offense, as the Tigers produced 312.
  • Landis continued to be a safety net for the Tiger offense, as the senior hauled in four passes for 84 yards with his counter-part Bowling pulling down six passes for 62 yards.
  • Defensively the Tigers were led by their leading tackler Terrance Crowe who recorded 11 total tackles, and freshman Corey Dieringer who posted seven tackles, one forced fumble, one interception and one pass break-up.

UP NEXT

  • The Tigers are back in action in Springfield against the Terriers of Hiram College on October 22 at 1:00PM.