Four Wabash interceptions led to three Wheaton touchdowns. Two of the picks were returned for scores as Wheaton's Jeff Mumm scrambled 47 yards for the first interception return in the first half. Bob Bollweg put the Thunder in front 51-27 with a 14-yard interception return to open the scoring in the fourth quarter.
The Little Giants had no problem moving the football on Saturday. Wabash outgained the Thunder in contest, finishing with 493 yards of total offense compared to 465 for Wheaton. Wabash quarterback Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson) threw for 349 yards (21-of-52, 4 TDs, 4 interceptions), including two 64-yard scoring strikes and a five-yard TD to tight end Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian). Knott also connected for a scoring pass to freshman Brandon Clifton (Lafayette, IN/McCutcheon) for his his first career TD.
Wabash running back Chris Morris (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville) put his first rushing touchdown of the season on the scoreboard in the first quarter on a nine-yard run to tie the score at 7-7. Wheaton ran off 21 unanswered points to take a 28-7 lead before Short and Clifton found the endzone to make it 28-21.
The Thunder added a field goal at the end of the first half to make it 31-21, then struck quickly to open the second half. Bryant Wolfsberger took the second-half kickoff and raced 80 yards for a touchdown to put Wheaton up 37-27. Knott's third TD pass to Short cut the Thunder lead to 10, but turnovers continued to haunt the Little Giants, giving Wheaton the win.
Wabash is 1-1 and will travel to Springfield, Ohio, on Saturday to play Wittenberg.