SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—Wittenberg football got back on the right track in a big way against the Hiram Terriers on Saturday. The Tiger defense shutout the Terriers, 40-0, and held the Terriers offense to an astonishing -15 yards rushing on the day in the program's 750th win all-time. The Tigers all-time record for fewest rushing yards allowed in a game came in 1970 against California (Pa.) State in 1970 with -42 yards allowed. While Hiram's offense sputtered getting going, Wittenberg exploded for 423 yards of total offense in the shutout. The usual suspects were in prime-form for the Tigers on Saturday on the offensive side of the ball, with the defensive unit forcing multiple turnovers in the NCAC rout.
GAME BREAKDOWN
- Wittenberg secured an early lead on a one play drive that resulted in a nine-yard touchdown throw from Jake Kennedy to Luke Landis at the 12:18 mark in the first quarter.
- Wittenberg went up 13-0 over the Terriers on their next two offensive drives, as senior kicker Will Gingery sent two kicks through the uprights from 30, and 18 yards out.
- Capping off the 20-0 first quarter lead for the Tigers was DeShawn Sarley, who punched in a handoff for a touchdown from four yards out.
- Wittenberg was held scoreless in the second quarter, until Kennedy found Landis for a 30 yard-strike, as the senior dove across the goal-line to go up 27-0.
- Gingery's big leg came through on the next two Tiger drives, as the senior nailed attempts from the 31, and 37 yards out.
- Rounding out the scoring for the Tigers was Tanner Clarke who connected with Jeff Tiffner on a quick-strike catch and throw from three yards out to go up 40-0.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
- Kennedy surpassed the 1,500 yard passing mark in 2016 with his 245 yard game on Saturday.
- Landis' 77 yard day was good enough for two touchdowns, as the senior hauled in his seventh and eight touchdown receptions of the season.
- The Brookville native has caught a touchdown pass in every game for the Tigers this season except one.
- Tiffner pulled down the longest play of the day; a 54 yard catch up the far sideline that lead to another Tiger scoring drive.
DEVENSIVE NOTES
- Wittenberg's defensive unit allowing -15 yards is impressive enough, but the Tigers defense has been outdoing themselves when it comes to stopping the runs all season as the unit is not holding opponents to 64 yards a game on the ground.
- The Tigers defense produced 12 tackles for loss on Saturday, costing the Terriers 56 yards in the wrong direction.
- Chandler Ferko paced the Tigers with two and-a-half tackles for a loss, while Jeremy Asiffo, Terrance Crowe, Ferko, Josh Link, and Austin Towsey all recorded sacks in the victory.
- Crowe paced the Tigers overall with 11 tackles, as he and Aron Childers also recorded interceptions on Saturday.
UP NEXT
- Wittenberg returns to action at Oberlin College on October 29 at 3:00PM