Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg University's offense had
struggled for three straight weeks. On an idyllic fall afternoon in
front of their home fans, the slumbering Tigers came alive in a
41-17 victory over the University of Chicago.
It was a first-ever meeting between Wittenberg and Chicago, and it
produced a signficant amount of offense for both teams. The Tigers
finished with a whopping 30 first downs - their highest total in
nearly two years - and the Maroons weren't far behind with 24.
Wittenberg compiled a season-best 581 yards of total offense,
thanks to tremendous balance (234 yards rushing and 347 yards
passing).
In the end, the numbers that mattered were displayed on the
Edwards-Maurer Field scoreboard. With the win, the Tigers improved
to 5-1 overall, heading into a key road game against Allegheny on
Saturday, Oct. 20. Chicago had its record leveled at 3-3.
The fireworks started early for Wittenberg as they drove right
down the field and scored on their first two possessions. Both
drives ended in spectacular fashion, starting with a touchdown
reception in the back of the end zone by freshman tailback Jimmy
Dehnke (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) that was initially juggled
by junior wide receiver Brendon Cunningham (Kettering,
Ohio/Fairmont).
The second score covered 19 yards in spectacular fashion as
junior wide receiver Desi Kirkman (Lima, Ohio/Central Catholic)
took a short pass across the middle, cut up the sideline and then
flipped over a Chicago defender as he crossed the goal line.
Junior quarterback Reed Florence (South Charleston,
Ohio/Southeastern) went on to throw four touchdown passes, adding a
perfectly thrown 30-yard strike to junior wideout Jonathan Stoner
(Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling Green) in the second quarter and a
nine-yard toss to Cunningham in the fourth quarter.
In between, Dehnke added touchdown runs of two yards in the second
quarter and 11 yards early in the fourth period. He finished with
128 yards on 21 carries, while Florence contributed 70 yards on 10
totes and junior JaVanh Sanders (Las Vegas, Nev./) contributed 36
yards on seven carries.
Through the air, Florence covered 347 yards on 22-of-31 passing.
Cunningham was his favorite target with seven catches for 102
yards, while Kirkman added four receptions for 62 yards.
Defensively, Wittenberg was paced by junior linebacker Spencer
Leno (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon) with 13 tackles, while senior
cornerback Jamaal Everett (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) and junior
safety Mark Swope (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn) added 10 stops apiece.
Everett also was credited with two pass break-ups.