Tigers Top Kenyon 45-21 for Fourth Straight Victory

GAMBIER, Ohio - Thanks to a school record three interceptions by senior cornerback Ryan Myers (Palm Harbor, Fla./University) and the best offensive balance of the season, the Wittenberg Tigers overcame an unusual morning start time to pull away from host Kenyon 45-21.

The win was Wittenberg's fourth in a row to improve to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Lords, who have not beaten Wittenberg since 1914, dropped to 2-7 overall and 2-6 in the league.

The game was played at 10 a.m. due to the NCAC Field Hockey Tournament championship game scheduled for later in the day in a stadium without lights. So Wittenberg's players and coaches loaded up for the road trip before 6 a.m.

The Tiger offense showed no ill effects from the early start, piling up 476 yards, thanks in large part to another efficient performance by senior quarterback Zack Jenkins (Frostproof, Fla./Frostproof). He completed 17-of-25 passes in the game for 314 yards and four touchdowns, and he added another score with his legs, an 11-yard scamper that opened the scoring.

After Kenyon tied the game on its next possession on a 60-yard touchdown pass, Jenkins really went to work, throwing touchdown passes covering 11 yards to junior Luke Landis (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) and 19 yards to senior Corey Stump (Lima, Ohio/Central Catholic). By halftime, the advantage was 28-7 after senior Sean Gary (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) ran it in from eight yards out.

Kenyon answered with another long touchdown pass to start the third quarter, but the Tigers put the game out of reach with two more Jenkins scoring passes to close the period. The first went to Landis for 21 yards and the second went to Stump for 50 yards.

Landis led the receiving corps with six catches for 124 yards, junior Luke Bowling (New Lebanon, Ohio/Dixie) added five catches for 94 yards, and Stump finished with five receptions for 92 yards. Gary led the rushing attack with a season-high 90 yards on 19 carries.

Also of note, the Tiger kicking game continued to shine as the combination of senior Ty Smith (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) and junior Will Gingery (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points, in addition to a 23-yard Gingery field goal. For the season, the Tigers have not missed a PAT in 42 tries, and Smith and Gingery are 11-of-13 on field goals.

Finally, the Tiger defense gave up several big plays but otherwise performed well, limiting the Lords to 214 total yards outside of the three touchdowns. Junior linebacker Dustin Holmes (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) led the defense with 13 tackles, and sophomore safety Keenan Wilson (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton) added a career-best 10 stops. Sophomore defensive lineman Chandler Ferko (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) made two tackles for loss, sophomore linebacker Jesse Kolinac (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrew's) intercepted a pass, and freshman cornerback Rashon Edwards (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) made nine tackles and had two pass break-ups.

Myers stole the show, however, with his three interceptions. The Wittenberg record book does not list any players in program history with more than two interceptions in a game. Two of the three picks led directly to Wittenberg touchdowns.

Wittenberg returns home for the season finale against Allegheny at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.

Written By: Ryan Maurer