#17 Wittenberg Faces #15 Thomas More in NCAA Playoffs

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—After winning the NCAC league championship outright over the weekend, the #17 Wittenberg Tigers football program will be headed to #15 Thomas More for the opening round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. The Tigers square off against the Saints on November 19 at noon at BB&T Field on Thomas More's campus.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

• Wittenberg opened up the 2016 season with a shutout against OAC foe Capital, before handing OWU, Wabash, Wooster, and DePauw NCAC losses.  
• The Tigers lone loss in 2016 came against Denison on a late field goal; a loss that sent the NCAC into a three-horse race.
• After handling their business, the Tigers and their nationally ranked defense were benefit to some help from around the league, as the Tigers won the NCAC outright on the final day of the season.
• The Saints of Thomas More opened up 2016 with a non-conference loss to Franklin before raddling off nine straight victories en route to a PAC League Championship.
• The Saints boast an offense that has put-up eye popping numbers all year in the run and pass game, but the Tigers calling card has been stifling the run all season long.
• Both teams have defeated ranked opponents in 2016, as the Saints dropped #23 Washington & Jefferson on September 17, while the Tigers handled then #14 Wabash 24-14 on September 24.
• Thomas More comes in ranked #15 in the d3football.com poll, while the Tigers sit at #17.

TEAM COMPARISON

• Thomas More averages nearly 100 yards more offense a game than the Tigers at 517.9 yards, but the Tigers defense enters play allowing 69.6 yards on the ground per-game.
• Thomas more has held opponents to 18.9 points per-game, while the Wittenberg defense held all opponents to nearly half that, at 9.6 points per-game.
• Wittenberg's nationally ranked defense squares off against Thomas More's record setting offense in a game that boasts dynamic players on both sides of the ball. 
• The Tigers lead the all-time series 4-0, as the Tigers and Saints have not faced one another since 2004.

GAME INFO

• Kickoff is set for noon on November 19, as links for audio, video and live stats will be provided by Thomas More later in the week.

TICKETS

• Tickets will be $8 for adults and $4 for students/senior citizens.  There will be a $5 charge for general parking.  For tailgating information please contact Karel Jelinek at jelinek@thomasmore.edu or at (859) 344-3541.