Big Third Quarter Propels Tigers Past Capital In Season Opener

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Thanks in large part to an efficient offensive performance that included 342 yards passing by senior quarterback Zack Jenkins (Frostproof, Fla./Frostproof), the Wittenberg Tigers opened the 2015 season with a 38-27 road victory over long-time Central Ohio rival Capital.

The win was the third straight in the series with Capital, which dates back nearly a century, and it gave the Tigers plenty of momentum heading into their only bye week of the 2015 season. Wittenberg opens the home portion of the schedule with a Community Night showdown with North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Ohio Wesleyan on Sept. 19.

Jenkins completed 26-of-34 passes in the game, finding six different receivers for 342 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 21 yards on three carries.

His favorite target was senior wide receiver Zach Culvahouse (Fort Myers, Fla./Estero), who picked up right where he left off at the end of his record-breaking 2014 season. He hauled in 12 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown. Junior Luke Landis (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) added 71 yards and two scores on six catches, and senior Corey Stump (Lima, Ohio/Central Catholic) contributed 60 yards on four receptions.

The Tigers got off to a fast start, putting together first quarter drives of 80 and 88 yards to stake out a 14-0 lead. After Capital responded with a touchdown late in the second quarter, Wittenberg broke the game open on a pair of long scoring strikes, with Jenkins picking out Culvahouse for 26 yards and then Landis for 28 yards. Before the third quarter ended, senior running back Jimmy Dehnke (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) had pushed the lead to 35-6 with his second short scoring run.

Dehnke finished with 89 yards on 21 carries.

Capital battled back over the final 15 minutes, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter. For the game, the Crusaders piled up 433 yards, including 349 on the ground while running the wing-T offense.

Junior linebacker Terrance Crowe (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) enjoyed a tremendous debut in the Red & White, finishing with a team-best 12 tackles. Senior safety Winston Thomas (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) added 11 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and junior linebacker Dustin Holmes (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) also reached double figures in tackles with 10, including 15 for loss and forced fumble.

Written By: Ryan Maurer