Wittenberg beats Ohio Wesleyan on field goal in final seconds

Wittenberg (2-2, 1-1) bounced back from a 21-16 loss at Denison last week and evened its record in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Ohio Wesleyan (4-1, 3-1) suffered its first loss of the season.

Wittenberg built a 14-0 lead on a 52-yard interception return for a score by safety Jordan Burkey in the first quarter and a 15-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Froehlich to Jake Saus early in the second quarter. The Batting Bishops tied the score with two touchdowns by Austin Womack in the second quarter.

Wittenberg regained the lead in the third quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Froehlich to Gene Nobles. Ohio Wesleyan answered with 10 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, taking a 23-21 lead on a 22-yard field goal by Gabe Philhower with 11:35 left.

Ohio Wesleyan had a chance to put the game away in the final minutes but fumbled. Wittenberg linebacker Logan Jewsikow recovered the ball at the Wittenberg 17-yard line with 2:20 to play.

On the winning drive, Froehich threw 10 straight passes, completing six, including a 25-yard pass to Saus to move the ball into Ohio Wesleyan territory.

A 10-yard pass to Sam Kayser on 3rd-and-10 moved the ball to the Ohio Wesleyan 9. Then Bryce Anderson ran for seven yards, setting up Goodwin for the short field goal.

Froehlich completed 18 of 32 passes for 243 yards. Kayser caught five passes for 80 yards. Nobles caught seven passes for 80 yards.

Wittenberg improve to 54-35-6 against Ohio Wesleyan. The Tigers have won the last 13 meetings.

Wittenberg plays DePauw (3-1, 3-1) at 2 p.m. next Saturday on homecoming at Edwards-Maurer Field. DePauw beat Hiram 57-7 on Saturday.