No. 13 Wittenberg routs DePauw 52-6, now alone atop NCAC

Monday, October 23, 2017
Wittenberg running back DeShawn Sarley (2) bursts through a hole through two DePauw defenders on his way to a big gain.
Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

Wittenberg’s special teams and defense accounted for three touchdowns as the 13th-ranked visitors handed No. 25 DePauw a 52-6 loss at Blackstock Stadium.

Wittenberg improved to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, while DePauw dropped to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the NCAC.

DePauw held a 3-0 lead in the contest after Jake Tanner booted a 31-yard field goal with 10:14 left in the first and the DePauw defense forced a three-and-out on its first series.

However, Wittenberg struck quickly late in the first as Jake Kennedy team with Liam Duncan for a 25-yard scoring play with 5:12 left in the quarter. After DePauw was forced to punt on its next possession, Wittenberg’s Nick Kendall took the boot at his own 40 and returned it 60 yards for a score that made it 14-3 with 3:28 remaining in the period.

Early in the second DePauw drove to the Wittenberg 38, but couldn’t connect on a reverse pass on second down before a third-down sack and fumble recovery pushed the ball back to the 43 forcing the Tigers to punt.

Wittenberg drove 80 yards in nine plays with Kennedy teaming with Thad Snodgrass for an 8-yard scoring pass to extend the lead to 21-3. The visitors then forced a fumble on the kickoff and Wittenberg recovered.

Seven plays later Adam Acquista booted a 39-yard field goal to make it 24-3 with 4:31 left in the half.

DePauw again was unable to field the ensuing kickoff and Wittenberg recovered at the DePauw 30. Kennedy and Snodgrass connected again for a 10-yard score with just 1:44 left in the half. The guests made it 38-3 just 48 seconds later when Chandler Ferko stripped the ball from DePauw quarterback Jake Lasky and streaked the remaining 17 yards to the end zone. That capped a stretch of 24 Wittenberg points in just 5:48.

Kennedy tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Bailey on Wittenberg’s first possession of the second half before Michael Ford wrapped up the Wittenberg scoring with an 80-yard interception return with 3:05 left in the third.

DePauw’s final points came in the fourth when Tanner hit a 28-yard field goal.

Lasky rushed for a team-high 57 yards on 20 attempts and completed 7 of 15 for 48 yards. Cam Haynes completed 5 of 8 for 36 yards. Ben Wilson, Ryan Grizzard and Demarco Henry each caught two passes.

Wittenberg receiver Thaddeus Snodgrass (11) has his eyes on a touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Kennedy, as DePauw’s Brooks Hepp defends the play.
Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

Kennedy completed 19 of 33 passes for 226 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Jeff Tiffner caught five of those for 100 yards. Jaheem Washington led the ground attack with 41 yards in 11 attempts.

Matt Crupi and Zach Williams each recorded nine tackles in the loss, while Jonathon Seay had 11 stops for Wittenberg. Ferko, Brnadon Daniels and Kyle Dieringer each had 1 sack.

Wittenberg outgained DePauw 325-211 and converted DePauw’s four fumbles into 24 points.

DePauw returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Allegheny in a 1 p.m. NCAC contest.

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