BW Tops Tigers In Renewal Of Classic Rivalry

BEREA, OH - For the first time since 1999 the Wittenberg Tigers and Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets squared off in a college football game. The homestanding Yellow Jackets scored 10 points off two Tiger turnovers in the first quarter and went on to make that lead stand up in a 24-14 season opening win.

The decision evened up the all-time series, which dates all the way back to 1896, at 21-21-1. The two teams will meet again in the 2025 season, with that game scheduled to take place at Wittenberg's Edwards-Maurer Field.

A fumble on the opening kickoff (recovered by Wittenberg) was followed by a fumble on the game's first play from scrimmage, but Wittenberg's defense held BW to a field goal. After the teams traded punts, the Yellow Jackets cashed in on another Tiger turnover by taking an interception 33 yards to paydirt.

After seeing its first drive of the second quarter end on a fourth-down stop at BW's one-yard-line, Wittenberg got on the scoreboard with 4:27 left in the first half on a 1-yard run by Christian Manville (Westerville, OH / New Albany). The Yellow Jackets answered right back, however, with a touchdown in the waning seconds before halftime.

Baldwin Wallace effectively put the game out of reach with a touchdown late in the third quarter that was also set up by a Wittenberg turnover. The Tigers pulled back within 10 points with 2:21 left in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Max Milton (Carmel, IN / Heritage Christian) to Earl Pope (Miami, FL / Carol City).

Defenses dominated the game, as evidenced by the final yardage totals. Wittenberg was held to 279 yards, including 203 passing and 76 rushing. The Tigers' defense limited BW to just 242 yards of total offense and just 58 yards rushing, thanks in part to a whopping 12 tackles for loss in the game.

Milton finished the game 22-of-37 in the game. His favorite target was Kahleel Trent (Springboro, OH / Springboro) with seven receptions for 85 yards. Manville added three catches for 45 yards out of the backfield to go along with his 104 yards rushing on 21 carries, and tight end Troy Teepe (Brookville, IN / East Central) caught three passes for 34 yards.

Defensively, the Tigers were led by Cameron Snurr (Springboro, OH / Springboro) with nine tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of five yards, and he was also credited with one of Wittenberg's four quarterback hurries in the game. Eli Renick (Sarasota, FL / Riverview) added eight tackles, including a team-high 2.5 for loss, and he also got credit for quarterback hurry. Also of note were a fumble recovery by Trenton Carter (Carmichaels, PA / Carmichaels Area) and an interception returned 41 yards by Luke Jackson (DeGraff, OH / Riverside).

Christian Manville was named Wittenberg's Lee Tressel Shrine Game Player of the Game for Wittenberg. Photo by Braden Medeiros