There will be no trophy presentation after the game. No preparations for the football playoffs will be made. No banners will be raised. But based on past results, the winner of Saturday's North Coast Athletic Conference showdown between Wabash and Wittenberg will take an early step towards a possible league title.
 
The Little Giants and Tigers have won or shared a portion of the NCAC crown each of the past 11 seasons, including a shared NCAC title in 2006. The Tigers shared the 2012 trophy with Ohio Wesleyan after Wabash knocked off Witt in the regular season but lost conference games to Oberlin and Allegheny, marking the only time since 2005 that the winner of the matchup between the two schools has not earned at least a piece of the conference trophy.
 
"This game has become a tradition of two really good football programs with a history of formidable teams that play a big game every fall," Wabash head coach Don Morel said. "Wittenberg is a very good football team. They are excellent defensively, they're balanced on offense, and they've always been very good on special teams. We have to bring our 'A' game Saturday. Clearly this is a big game. We're just going to try and be ready for it."
 
Wabash was picked as the favorite by the league coaches to win the 2016 title, with Wittenberg selected second. Both teams enter Saturday's game undefeated. Wabash followed a 41-34 overtime win at Albion to open the season with a dominating rushing performance and defense shutdown of Allegheny in a 59-7 win Saturday. The Little Giants amassed a school record 513 yards versus the Gators.
 
Wittenberg has allowed one touchdown through two games — an early fourth-quarter score by Ohio Wesleyan in a 26-0 ballgame at that time. The Tigers' defense and special teams have been stellar through the first two games of the season to produce a 34-0 blanking of Capital two weeks prior to last Saturday's 33-7 win over OWU to begin the NCAC portion of the schedule.
 
Will Gingery earned a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week by averaging 48.8 yards on five punts, but his kicking efforts were equally impressive versus Ohio Wesleyan. The junior hit 4-of-4 attempts, including kicks of 41 and 50 yards, to tally 12 points for the Tigers. He is tied with Denison's Conor Dun for the Division III lead in field goals per game (3.0 average) and is a perfect 6-for-6 through the first two games.
 
Wittenberg leads DIII in scoring defense with its 3.5 points-per-game average. Senior linebacker Terrance Crowe not only leads the team but is also tops in the nation with an average of 17 tackles per game. He made 20 stops in the OWU game to also earn a place on the D3football.com Team of the Week. Defensive mate Dustin Holmes produced six of the Tigers' points in last Saturday's win with a 47-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Sophomore cornerback Rashown Edwards tops the DIII stats listings in pass breakups with seven.
 
"Coach Morel tells us all the time the most important game is the next game," senior wide receiver Drake Christen said. "We've tried to keep the same mentality in terms of preparation and practice that we had in getting ready for Allegheny last week. We need the same type of effort we had Saturday against Allegheny. But we know it's a big game. It's a big game every year. We know what's at stake.
 
"Wittenberg always has players who play hard. That shows on film. They play fast and they hit hard. We have to bring the same intensity."
 
A younger group of players are sprinkled throughout the Wittenberg offense. First-year starting quarterback Jake Kennedy has been solid through the first two games. The sophomore has thrown for 417 yards (33-of-59) and two touchdowns with a lone interception. Veterans Luke Bowling and Luke Landis are among the top receivers for the Tigers. Bowling leads the team with 14 catches for 143 yards. Landis has six receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown this year after hauling in 13 passes for 99 yards and both Wittenberg touchdowns in last year's 41-14 win by Wabash.
 
Kennedy provides a running threat for Wittenberg in addition to his passing ability. He has rushed for 136 yards in 31 attempts and has scored two TDs. Sophomore Deshawn Sarley is the leading rusher for the Tigers with 39 carries for 193 yards and two scores.
 
Last year Wabash held the Tigers to 26 rushing yards in 33 attempts, produced seven sacks for 42 yards as part of 11 tackles for losses. Brian Parks picked off three Wittenberg passes, returning one for a 30-yard touchdown, part of four interceptions on the day. Wittenberg also lost a pair of fumbles for a total of six turnovers. Can the Little Giants produce a similar result Saturday?
 
"Obviously we would love to have the same type of defensive effort we produced last year against Wittenberg, but this is a different season," Morel said. "I don't see them turning the ball over the way they did last year. At the end of the day, it's less about what they do. There are takeaways in games and there are turnovers. To get the ball from Wittenberg you have to take it away. They're not going to turn it over on their own."
 
Kickoff showdown is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Edwards-Maurer Field in Springfield, Ohio. WNDY (91.3 FM) will carry the broadcast beginning at 12:30 p.m. A live video feed and live statistics will be produced by Wittenberg.