W&J sees itself in playoff foe
The quarterback is the key cog in the offense, the wide receivers play an important role and the running game has churned out more than 1,200 yards in 10 games.
Sounds a lot like Washington & Jefferson’s football team.
Actually, it’s the Wittenberg Tigers, W&J’s opponent Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs in Springfield, Ohio.
The Tigers and Presidents also have in common a 9-1 record, a conference automoatic bid – W&J’s from the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title and Wittenberg’s from the North Coast Athletic Conference – and red in their color scheme.
“They are similar to us,” said W&J head coach Mike Sirianni. “Our offensive styles are more similar.”
Junior Zach Jenkins (6-3, 185) will make his first playoff start for Wittenberg after winning the starting quarterback position in camp. He’s completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,499 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Sean Gary and Jimmy Dehnke, both 6-2, 200-pound juniors, have combined for 892 of the Tigers’ rushing 1,264 yards. And junior wide receiver Zach Culvahouse (5-10, 175) has 71 receptions for 1,010 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“(Jenkins’) strength is that he plays within himself,” said Joe Fincham, Wittenberg’s head coach. “He is a first-year starter, and guys who are first-year starters try to do things that just aren’t them. He has been a backup for a couple years, and he knows he has to rely on the other 10 guys. He’s still the leader and our voice. He knows what to do to command the other guys.”
Jenkins is coming off a three-touchdown, 276-yard performance in a 52-21 rout of Allegheny. Culvahouse had seven catches for 116 yards and two TDs.
“(Culvahouse) plays the premier position in our offense in terms of how the ball is thrown,” said Fincham. “It all goes through the slot. He runs good routes and has good hands. And he has good body control.”
Wittenberg is smaller and quicker on the defensive front, except for tackle Josh Bannick, who is 6-3 and 300 pounds. Linebackers Nick Gibson and Evan Killilea have combined for 157 tackles and four interceptions.
“They put themselves in good position,” said Fincham. “Bannick is a big strong kid in the middle.”
There are some contrasts within in the teams, namely a huge size advantage Wittenberg has along the offensive line. The Tigers go 280, 270, 260, 260 and 315 from left tackle to right tackle.
“We’re going to have to try to beat them with our speed and our moves,” said W&J linebacker Ryan Torrance. “They remind me of Johns Hopkins with their running game. They are not intricate; they just come out you. They like to keep it between the tackles.”
W&J will rely on the arm of quarterback Pete Coughlin and the legs of Ryan Ruffing to move the offense. Coughlin, making his second playoff start, has completed 69 percent of his passes for 2,923 yards and 29 touchdowns. Like his counterpart, Coughlin has thrown only four interceptions.
“The first thing that jumps out at you is their team speed,” said Fincham. “Their skill kids run well, and the quarterback can run and throw it.”
The wide receiver trio of junior Daniel Lis, senior Max Creighan and freshman Jesse Zubik produces an average of 17 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns each game.
“Typically, when you get in a game like this, you go in a try to play to your strong suits,” Fincham said. “I think that’s what will happen.”
Wittenberg is the second-winningest program in Division III with 736 wins and W&J is third with 706. … The winner of this game will most likely play Mount Union in the second round. The Purple Raiders lead Division III schools with 738 wins, have won 11 NCAA titles and have an 82-14 record in the playoffs. … Coughlin’s head coach at Upper St. Clair, Jim Render, is a graduate of Wittenberg.