Wabash quarterback Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson) continued to rewrite the record book on Saturday. The sophomore broke his own single-game passing yardage mark by throwing for 459 yards in the loss. Knott also set the Wabash mark for passing attempts and completions in a single game by goin 40 for 68 with two interceptions and six touchdowns. His 40 completions tied the NCAC record and set a Wabash record.
Kurt Casper (Greenwood, IN/Center Grove) hit the record books by breaking the Wabash and NCAC single-game record for receiving yards with 250. Casper also set a Wabash single-game TD reception record with four.
Allegheny jumped out to a 21-6 lead in the first few seconds of the second quarter only to see Wabash roar back to thie the game in the third quarter after a Knott 33-yard TD pass to Brent Graber (Kokomo, IN/Northwestern) and a Knott one-yard run. Allegheny answered with two more touchdowns to take a 41-27 lead. Wabash came back with an 11-yard pass from Knott to Casper to cut the lead to eight.
The Gators scored again to move in front 47-33. That's when Knott found Casper two more times on pass of 11 and 65-yards for scores to make it a two point contest. After the Wabash defense held again at midfield, the Little Giants took over at the one yard line. Allegheny put the game away, coming up with an interception on the first play of the Wabash series and scored two plays later to secure the 54-45 victory.
Nathan Boulais (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) and Treven Upkes (Springfield, OR/Springfield) led the Wabash defense, as each finished the game with 16 tackles. Defensive tackle B.J. Hammer (Carmel, IN/Carmel), who was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for his performance last weekend at Hiram, scooped up a fumble and rumbled 93 yards before going down at the one yard line, setting a Wabash record for the longest fumble return.
Wabash (5-3, 4-3) will play its final NCAC game this season next Saturday, as the Denison Big Red comes to Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Record Broken or tied in the Wabash-Allegheny Game
Wabash Records Broken (previous record)
Single Game Passing Yardage Jake Knott with 459 yards (Jake Knott 439 yards vs. DePauw 1999)
Single Game Passing Attempts Jake Knott with 68 (Brett Butler with 66 vs. Franklin in 1989)
Single Game Completions Jake Knott with 40 (Brett Butler with 36 twice, vs Olivet Nazarene and Franklin both in 1989)
Single Game Receiving Yardage Kurt Casper with 250 yards (Jay Dee Flynn with 220 yards vs DePauw in 1999)
Single Game Touchdown Receptions Kurt Casper with 4 (nine players with 3 in a game)
Longest Fumble Return in Wabash College history 93 yards by B.J. Hammer (64 yards (TD) by B.J. Hammer vs Manchester, 2000)
Wabash Single Game – Total Offense Yardage by an opponent Allegheny with 605 (Albion with 596 in 1993)
Most Points Scored By Wabash in a loss 45 points (41 points vs. Franklin, 1989)
WABASH RECORDS TIED
Single Game Passing TDs Jake Knott with 6 (Jake Knott with 6 vs. Hiram last Saturday)
NORTH COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE RECORDS BROKEN
Single Game Passing Attempts Jake Knott with 68 (Eric Dahlquist, Kenyon in 1987, Jason Bell, Denison in 1994)
Single Game Receiving Yardage Kurt Casper with 250 yards (Ted Taggert, Kenyon with 227 in 1989 vs. Denison)
Team Single Game Passing Attempts 69 by Wabash (61 by Kenyon, 1987, by Denison, 1994)
NCAC RECORDS TIED
TD Passes in a game 6 by Jake Knott (6 by Jake Knott last Saturday vs. Hiram)
Passing Completions 40 by Jake Knott (40 by James Parker, Oberlin, 1997)
TD Receptions 4 by Kurt Casper (4 by Brandon Good, Wooster in 1996 and Chris Cabot, Wooster in 1999)