In dramatic fashion, the Little Giants fired the same play they had worked on time and again in practice - a designed tipped pass from Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) - fell into Casper's waiting arms to give Wabash a 27-21 victory in the 108th Monon Bell Classic.
Officially it was a 52-yard completion from Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson), but the only number that mattered was 300 - the weight of the Bell as it returned to Wabash.
Wabash led 14-7 at halftime after TD passes from Knott to Nick Dawson (LaFontaine, IN/Wabash Southwood) and Short. DePauw drew even in the third quarter before the Little Giants regained the lead on a six-yard completion to Short. The reception was the 13th touchdown catch of the season for Short, tying the Wabash and conference single season mark he set last year.
DePauw answered with 14 seconds left in the game, tying the contest at 21-21 to set up the heroics.
Eddie Garza (Edinburg, TX/Edinburg North) returned the Tigers' kick to the Wabash 39 yard line. Knott hit Casper for a short gain to the 48 with three seconds showing on the clock.
Knott rolled right on the final play of the game, fired the final pass toward the end zone, and awaited the outcome along with 7,300 fans and two anxious teams.
The ball was tipped by Short to Casper, who made the game-winning grab and was immediately mobbed by his teammates.
The win ended a five-year drought in Bell games for Wabash. The Little Giants trail in the overall series by just one game, 50-49-9.
Wabash finishes the regular season 8-2, winning its last seven games of the season.