10.15.16 #14 Wittenberg vs. Denison

While the Tigers hit the midway point of the 2016 season, halfway to ten wins, the Denison Big Red have done the same, although the team from Granville has not beaten Wittenberg since 1989.

10.15.16 #14 Wittenberg vs. Denison
October 14, 2016

SETTING THE SCENE

#14 Wittenberg enters Saturday's NCAC contest against Denison, who has matched their best start to a season since 1985 in back-to-back years, now at 5-0. While the Tigers hit the midway point of the 2016 season, halfway to ten wins, the Denison Big Red have done the same, although the team from Granville has not beaten Wittenberg since 1989. Wittenberg has grown offensively week-after-week, but the Tigers defense has been the back-bone of the 2016 squad. 

After knocking off Wabash and DePauw in impressive fashion, the Tigers defensive unit has only allowed 8.8 points per-game, as well as limited their opponents to a minuscule 72.6 rushing yards per-game. On the other side of the ball, Denison's defense is no slouch, as Big Red has allowed 13.6 points per-game, while limiting their opponents to 106.8 yards on the ground per-game.  In a battle of two teams with unblemished records, Denison's five wins have come against opponents that have combined to go 4-17 thus far, while Wittenberg's opponents have gone 11-9 in 2016. 

SERIES HISTORY 

  • Wittenberg has played Denison 77 times since 1901, and the Tigers hold a 51-23-2 lead in the series. 
  • Since Big Red won the first meeting between the two teams as NCAC rivals in 1989, the Tigers have reeled off 22 straight wins over Denison, including last year's 45-14 drubbing in Springfield.  
  • Big Red have not beaten the Tigers in Springfield since 1952. 

RANKINGS

  • Wittenberg enters Saturday's NCAC contest ranked #14 in the AFCA Coach's Poll as well as #14 in the d3football.com poll. 
  • Despite a 5-0 start to the season, Denison is not ranked.  

 OFFENSIVE NOTES

  • As a team, the Tigers offensive unit is averaging 426.2 yards a game during their 5-0 start, including nearly 200 yards a game on the ground. 
  • By air, Jake Kennedy is completing 60% of his passes, which is good for 213.2 passing yards a game, and ten passing touchdowns thus far. 
  • Luke Landis has accounted for three receiving touchdowns in the past two victories over Wooster and DePauw, as the senior wide-out has gone for 238 receiving yards in those two games alone. 
  • Luke Bowling showed his versatility a week ago, as the wide-receiver caught a decisive touchdown-grab against DePauw, after throwing a touchdown to his counterpart, Landis. 
  • On the ground, Kennedy has made opposing defenses uncomfortable with his uncanny ability to avoid pressure and break off big runs, but the Tiger running backs have been relentless on opposing defenses lines. 
  • Nick Kendall, DeShawn Sarley, and Jaheem Washington have made up the platoon that is the Tigers core of running backs, as Sarley and Kendall have combined for nearly 600 yards on the ground through five games. 
  • Washington has seen his carries increase as time has gone on, as the Floridian is a mean, downhill runner that is averaging nearly 5.5 yards a carry this season. 

 DEFENSIVE NOTES

  • Defensively, the Tigers rank nationally in multiple categories; 3rd scoring defense, 14th in red zone defense, 17th in rushing defense, and 49th in total defense.
  • Terrance Crowe is averaging 12.8 tackles for the Tigers at linebacker, while Dustin Holmes is right behind his senior counterpart with 11.8 tackles per game. 
  • Both Tiger linebackers have earned NCAC Defensive Player of the Week Honors in 2016, combining for four forced-fumbles, three pass break-ups and an interception through five games. 
  • Bobby Saul has emerged as a captain for the Tigers line, totaling five tackles for a loss, including one and-a-half sacks in 2016.  
  • Freshman Corey Dieringer filled in a defensive-back a week ago against DePauw, as the Versailles native had a career day for the red and white, notching 15 tackles and two pass break-ups in his first career start. 
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SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

  • Will Gingery currently shares the national lead of field goals per-game for Division III at 1.8, as the co-leader is interestingly enough Conor Dunn of Denison. 
  • The Bexley native also comes in at 6th in the nation with 44.2 yards per-punt in 2016. 
  • The senior standout currently ranks 58th in the nation in terms of scoring, averaging 9.0 points per-game for the Tigers.  

AMONG THE ELITE 

  • Wittenberg Head Coach Joe Fincham has won 186 games in his career, putting him at No. 9 among active NCAA Division III coaches in terms of total victories. Rick Giancola of Montclair State leads the list with 233.
  • Interestingly, the other coaches on the list all have at least 23 years as a head coach coming into the 2016 season. Fincham has 20 seasons under his belt as Wittenberg's head coach.

THE COACH

Wittenberg: Joe Fincham (Ohio University 1988); 186-41 overall; 131-18 NCAC

  • 11-11 NCAA Division III Tournament record
  • Wittenberg has won 11 conference titles under Fincham, including four in the last six years
  • NCAC Coach of the Year 9 times
  • 1998 AFCA District IV Coach of the Year honors in 1998 and 2009
  • d3football.com North Region Coach of the Year in 2009