Box Score Zach Jenkins passed for 293 yards and Zach Culvahouse racked up 140 receiving yards and two touchdowns as No. 14 Wittenberg hung on for a 30-23 victory over Denison University from Piper Stadium in Granville, Ohio.
It was an inspired performance by the Big Red and one that should carry them through the bye week and into its next scheduled game, a pivotal North Coast Athletic Conference match-up against The College of Wooster on Oct. 25.
Trailing 27-9 early in the fourth quarter, Brandon Sklenar connected with DuShawn Brown on an 8-yard touchdown pass, closing out a quick, three-play, 32-yard drive.
The Tigers would proceed to go on a 10-play scoring drive that would end in a 24-yard Evan Grissom field goal, putting Wittenberg on top 30-16 with 3:51 to play. The Big Red offense went to work quickly, scoring on a 26-yard pass from Sklenar to Ryan Roberts on their fifth play of the drive. The touchdown made it a one-score game and set the stage for an onside kick attempt with just over two minutes remaining.
The onside kick from Matt Puracchio would be recovered by Wittenberg, setting up a 1st and 10 for the Tigers from the Denison 44-yard line. The Denison defense would respond on 2nd and 9 when Lucas Romick tackled Sean Gary for a 9-yard loss, setting up 3rd and 18 from midfield. The Tigers would gain only two yards on a draw play, but would run the clock down to 45 seconds before bringing on its punt unit.
Wittenberg punter Will Gingery would get his kick away despite some pressure from the Big Red and it appeared as if Denison would take over from its own 34-yard line with 45 seconds on the game clock. However, a penalty on Denison for attempting to jump over the wedge on the punt would result in a personal foul on the Big Red and an automatic first down for Wittenberg, erasing any dramatic comeback attempts for DU.
Wittenberg held a slight 355-310 edge in total offense. Jenkins was 16-of-26 for 294 and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once, by Joe Weidenbach in the first quarter, and was also sacked three times. Culvahouse led all receivers with six catches for 140 yards and two TDs. Luke Landis also caught six balls for 83 yards. Armon Murray's 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown after a 37-yard field goal by Denison's Puracchio would give Wittenberg its first lead at 10-6.
For Denison, Sklenar was 20-of-32 for 200 yards and two touchdown passes. Colin Morris rushed for 81 yards off 18 carries and also caught four passes for 42 yards. Puracchio was 3-for-5 in field attempts. He connected on kicks from 24, 37, and 29 while missing from 36 and 26 yards.
The defense was led by Andrew Baird's 11 tackles. Romick posted eight tackles, one sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Joel Lohoua also added eight tackles and a fumble recovery.
The seven-point differential marked the closest Denison-Wittenberg game since 1990.
