None of those defeats rank as high in the shock department as Wittenberg's 24-21 loss at Denison in 2016.
“We finally got them,” said Denison coach Jack Hatem after that game.
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The Big Red beat Wittenberg on a 33-yard field goal by Conor Dunn with 21 seconds to play at Deeds Field in Granville, ending a 22-game losing streak in the series. It was Denison’s first victory over Wittenberg since 1989. During its winning streak, Wittenberg beat Denison by double digits all but one time.
As surprising as that game was, in some ways, Wittenberg had to know it was possible considering how far Denison has come as a program, posting five straight winning seasons.
“They are much improved,” Wittenberg coach Joe Fincham said. “Them and DePauw have really put it together in the last five or six years. It’s been good for our league. It hasn’t been good for us.”
The Tigers beat Denison 28-12 last season in Springfield and return to Granville for the first time since that 2016 loss at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Wittenberg (3-0, 2-0), ranked 11th in the American Football Coaches Association poll, has not lost a regular-season game since losing to Denison. Its streak reached 17 games with a 45-3 victory against Kenyon last Saturday in Springfield.
Denison has the same quarterback, Canaan Gebele, now a senior, who engineered the upset two years ago. He averages 210.7 passing yards and 54.3 rushing yards per game.
Denison (2-1, 2-0) opened the season with a 42-21 loss at Southwestern (Texas) and has since beat Allegheny 42-0 and Oberlin 52-27.
“Offensively, they’re outstanding,” Fincham said. “Their offensive line, they get physical. Their quarterback can carve you up throwing it. You can die a slow death by him tucking the ball and taking off and running on you. Theyv’e got a great group of receivers, too. It’s going to be an awesome challenge for the defense.”
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