Wittenberg hopes to build off biggest win of season on Senior Day in Springfield

Ohio Wesleyan (7-2, 6-2) played three games in the spring. Denison (6-3, 6-2) played one. Those teams are tied with Wittenberg (6-3, 6-2), which did not even play an exhibition game in the spring because of COVID-19 cancellations, for second place with one game to play. Wabash (6-3, 6-3), which also did not play in the spring, has lost three NCAC games for the first time since it joined the league in 2020.

Wittenberg lost to Denison and DePauw in the first half of the season. The lack of a spring season didn’t help coach Joe Fincham’s program, which has since won four straight games to make something of a season in which its NCAC championship hopes died early.

“When you look at our team, at one point in time we were 2-3,” Fincham said, “but at the same time, too, when you want to look at things in the bigger scheme, the teams that played in the spring in our league have had a distinct advantage over those of us who did not and unfortunately we got a couple of those teams in the first half of the season.”

Wittenberg closes the season at 1 p.m. Saturday against Wooster (6-3, 5-3) at Edwards-Maurer Field. A victory would create good vibes entering the offseason, especially coming one week after the Tigers beat rival Wabash 35-14 on the road.

“It’s obviously been a battle this year,” Fincham said. “Saturday’s win on the road was big for us. It’s always big when you when you beat Wabash period, but beating Wabash at their place is enormous.”

Wittenberg’s defense dominated, intercepting the NCAC’s leading passer, Liam Thompson, four times. He threw a total of four interceptions in the first eight games.

“He was putting up video-game numbers,” Fincham said. “He’s got a huge arm, a quick release and, on top of it, he’s a pretty athletic kid, too. Early in the game, it seemed like he wasn’t quite as on point. He had a ball or two that was dropped, and he may have missed a throw or two. But we went up 7-0, and all of a sudden, the light switch came on for him and the next thing you know we’re down 14-7. We were able to tie it up, and then right right before the half, the play of the game was made. He threw a screen pass, and Mike Knock picked it off and ran it back for a touchdown right before the half.”

Wittenberg will honor a number of seniors before its final home. Some, such as captains Sam Kayser and Jordan Burkey, are fifth-year seniors who will not be back next season. The fourth-year seniors have the option of returning because of the cancelled 2020 season.

“There are three starting offensive linemen who could come back,” Fincham said. “There are two starting defensive linemen who could come back. A corner could come back for us. Two receivers could come back for us. Off the top of my head, those would be the starters that have fifth years.”