Tigers Come Up Just Short In 22-16 Loss To Butler

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The new-look Wittenberg Tigers threw a scare into visiting Butler, staging a rally from a 19-point second-half deficit before losing 22-16 in the 2014 season opener for both teams.

Butler, a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, needed an interception in its own territory inside the final minute to finally thwart Wittenberg's momentum. The Tigers, ranked 13th in the D3football.com preseason poll, had erased the large deficit with a pair of touchdown passes from junior quarterback Zack Jenkins (Frostproof, Fla./Frostproof) to junior wide receiver Zach Culvahouse (Fort Myers, Fla./Estero).

Jenkins and Culvahouse were among a host of Tigers making their debuts as starters in the game after Wittenberg was hit hard by graduation losses following back-to-back runs to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2012 and 2013. The tandem stepped up the challenge, as Culvahouse caught a school-record 14 passes for 130 yards and Jenkins completed 30-of-49 passes, the third-highest completion total in program history.

Culvahouse came into the game with just eight catches in his collegiate career, as did junior wideout Corey Stump (Lima, Ohio/Central Catholic). Stump provided a perfect complement on the opposite side of the formation, finishing with 10 receptions for 168 yards, including a 48-yard catch-and-run that moved the Tigers into Butler territory inside the final two minutes.

Stump's catch on 3rd-and-21 went to Butler's 37-yard-line. That's where the Bulldog defense stiffened, however, starting with a sack and an incomplete pass. Jojo Ciancio then ended Wittenberg's hopes with an interception at the Butler 28-yard-line.

Jenkins finished with 363 yards through the air, but he was sacked a whopping 10 times in the game. On the ground, junior Sean Gary (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) added 76 hard-earned yards on 20 carries.

Gary was forced to carry a bigger load in the season opener due to the absence of junior Jimmy Dehnke (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson). He was one of at least seven projected starters or key reserves unavailable for the game due to injury, a laundry list that also included All-American offensive linemen Aaron Coeling (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) and Alec Nutting (Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland).

Butler also was breaking in numerous starters, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Matt Schiltz played well under center, throwing for 235 yards, while Sam Schrader ran for 60 yards and caught three passes for 95 yards.

Defensively, junior safety Winston Thomas (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) led the way with 13 tackles, including 10 of the solo variety. Senior linebacker Nick Gibson (Marysville, Ohio/Fairbanks) added eight stops, junior defensive tackle Josh Bannick (Enon, Ohio/Greenon) broke up passes and senior linebacker Evan Killilea (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) contributed a tackle for loss and an interception that set up Wittenberg's last touchdown of the game.

Written By: Ryan Maurer