Junior quarterback Russ Harbaugh (Evansville, IN/Evansville) (photo left) led the Wabash College football team on a 62-yard, 14-play drive and eventually scored from a yard out to give the Little Giants a 17-14 victory over Ohio Wesleyan University.
Wabash opened the game with seven-play scoring drive on the opening series, taking the opening kickoff and marching 37 yards before junior Mark Server (K/Plainfield, IN/Plainfield) nailed a 28-yard field goal to put Wabash on top 3-0.
Ohio Wesleyan took its first lead on the third play of the second quarter. OWU quarterback Ryan Sir Louis capped a seven-play, 42-yard drive by the Battling Bishops with a one-yard run up the middle to make it a 7-3 contest. But five plays later, it was Wabash regaining the lead on a spectacular play.
Sophomore running back Aaron Lafitte (Goodyear, AZ/Ironwood) took the football with just over 12 minutes showing on the second quarter game clock. The 2003 North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year bounced off of Ohio Wesleyan defenders on the way to a 19-yard TD, putting the Little Giants up 9-7 after a missed extra point.
Sophomore Nick Rice gave the Battling Bishops a 14-9 lead with 13:19 left in the game after a scoreless third quarter. Rice rambled into the endzone on a 12-yard run for one of nine carries for a team-high 55 yards.
On the Wabash series prior to the OWU touchdown, the Little Giants went to Harbaugh, replacing starting quarterback Dustin Huff (SO/Martinsville, IN/Martinsville). Harbaugh went three-and-out on that first series, but came back after the Bishops’ score to lead the Little Giants on a 14-play drive that would prove to be the difference in the game.
Harbaugh went 3-for-5 on the drive before turning the ball over to backup running back Chris Ogden (JR/Schererville, IN/Lake Central). Ogden rushed six time in row, moving the football to the OWU one. Harbaugh dove over the line on the next play, scoring from one yard out to put Wabash in front 15-14. The Little Giants went for the two-point conversion, converting the play when Harbaugh rolled right and found senior Brandon Clifton (Lafayette, IN/McCutcheon) in the back of the endzone for a 17-14 lead.
The offense then put the game in the hands of the Little Giant defense. The Bishops looked to mount a drive of their own, but saw it come crashing to an end on a key fourth down play. Ohio Wesleyan had already converted two previous fourth down plays in the game, but came up short this time when freshman Jared Lange (Terre Haute, IN/Terre Haute South) (photo right) caught Eric Indiciani four yards deep in the backfield on fourth and two, ending the Bishops’ drive. The Little Giants ran another 3:34 off the game clock before punting, giving the football back to Ohio Wesleyan with just 43 seconds showing on the game clock.
The Homecoming crowd was guaranteed the victory when sophomore Billy King (Peoria, AZ/Peoria) stepped in front of a Sir Louis pass for an interception.
The win was a costly one for Wabash. Despite moving to 4-0 for the season and 2-0 in the NCAC, the Little Giants saw junior Aaron Selby leave the field with a season-ending injury late in the second period. Lafitte also left the game for Wabash after reinjuring an ankle in the third period.
The Little Giants came into the game ranked sixth in the nation in rushing defense (39.7 ypg), while the Bishops led the conference with an average of 211 yards on the ground per contest. Ohio Wesleyan came away with 175 yards rushing on 47 attempts. The Bishops finished 6-of-18 for 52 yards in the passing game. Wabash had 319 yards of total offense – 182 on the ground and 137 in the air. Harbaugh finished the game 3-of-6 for 42 yards. Huff was 10-of-18 for 95 yards with an interception before leaving the game in the third period.
Lafitte led the Little Giants with 14 carries for 76 yards and one score. Ray Green (FR/Phoenix, AZ/Trevor G. Browne) and Lafitte each had three receptions. Green had 31 yards while Lafitte added 11 yards to his game totals.
Wabash, ranked 18th in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll, travels to Oberlin College next Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon (EST).
- QUICK HITTERS –
-- Wabash has won 17 consecutive home games.
-- Wabash is 51-26-8 in Homecoming football games, and is 5-3-1 against Ohio Wesleyan.
-- Harbaugh leads Wabash in scoring with three rushing touchdowns.
-- Tim Parker (JR/LB/Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) led Wabash with nine tackles.
-- Selby was the leading tackler for the Little Giants coming into the Ohio Wesleyan game (24 total tackles, 17 solo, seven assisted).