#17 Wittenberg Football Caps Off 2016 with Second-Round NCAA Playoff Loss to #2 Wisconsin Whitewater

WHITEWATER, Wisconsin—After coming off of the longest game in Division III Football history, the Wittenberg Tigers faced a taller task in that of perennial powerhouse, Wisconsin Whitewater in the second round. The Tigers exchanged field goals back and forth with the host early on in the game, but the Tigers nationally ranked defense could not stop the Warhawks offense in the second round of NCAA Playoff action. Wittenberg fell 37-9, as the red and white trailed 16-3 at halftime in a defensive first half. Wittenberg concludes 2016 with a record of 10-2, a NCAC league title, and another NCAA Playoff victory, 33-30 over Thomas More in four overtimes.

GAME BREAKDOWN

• Wittenberg drew first blood on the road, as senior kicker Will Gingery knocked home an 18-yard field goal at 10:49 in the first quarter.  
• Wittenberg managed to hold the Warhawks to field-goals in the first half, until under two minutes in the second quarter, when the home team found the back of the end-zone, taking a 16-3 lead into halftime.
• Sophomore signal-caller Jake Kennedy suffered an injury early on for the Tigers, as Tanner Clarke attempted 22 passes for Wittenberg on Saturday, rushing for the only Wittenberg touchdown.

GAME NOTES

• Despite exiting early with an injury, Kennedy recorded 92 yards passing in the game, as Clarke recorded 86.
• Logan Kirby hauled in two passes for 44 yards for Wittenberg, including a 38-yard strike.
• The Tigers finished 4-14 on third-down conversions, while the Warhawks were 10-17 on Saturday.
• Wisconsin Whitewater produced 496 yards of offense to Wittenberg's 258, including three interceptions.
• Keenan Wilson, Terrance Crowe, and Jack Kayser paced the Tigers with 10 tackles each on Saturday. 
• Bobby Saul recorded the only sack for the Tiger defense on Saturday, pulling the Warhawk quarterback down for a three-yard loss.