If you wonder why junior linebacker Adrian Pynenberg was named an 2005 Honorable Mention and 2006 preseason All-America selection, watch the game film from Wabash's 38-31 victory over Millikin.
The 5-11, 215-pounder was all over the field, making 20 tackles in the Little Giants' first win of the season. His 20 stops equalled the third-best single game tackles record in Wabash history. Twice Jim "Killer" Kilbane '84 made 20 tackles, including 20 against Millikin back in 1982.
Pynenberg recorded 10 solo tackles, had 1-1/2 tackles for losses of five yards, and had a four-yard sack in the contest.
While Pynenberg was leading a Wabash defense that struggled in its opener against Franklin last weekend, the Little Giants' passing attack picked up right where it left off in game one.
Senior quarterback Dustin Huff threw for 386 yards and four TDs, completing 22 of 36 passes in the game. Huff's first touchdown passes answered a long scoring drive for Milliin to open the game. The Big Blue marched 55 yards in 15 plays on their opening offensive series behind the running attack of senior all-conference back Nathan Wallick. Ten of the 15 plays were runs by Wallick, who finished with 29 carries for 132 yards. Millikin was forced to settle for a field goal when the drive stalled at the Wabash 22-yard line to take a 3-0 lead.
That lead only lasted for a few minutes. Two drives after the field goal, Huff and offense started on their own 20 after a Millikin punt. Huff hit junior Mike Russell in the middle of the field and let the former North Coast Athletic Conference Sprinter of the Year do the rest. Russell outraced the Millikin defenders, reaching the endzone on an 80-yard play to put Wabash up 7-3.
Junior Chad Finley added a 46-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter to make it 10-3 before Huff and Russell connected again. The pair ended a 10-play, 85-yard drive on an 11-yard hookup to make it 17-3.
Wabash held the 14-point edge at halftime, then added a 28-yard TD pass to Billy King for a 24-3 lead in the third quarter. The Little Giants answered a third quarter score by Millikin on a pass to Wallick from quarterback Joe Albin for 53 yards with a TD strike of their own. Geoff Walker snared a 16-yard pass from Huff in the back of the endzone to put Wabash up 31-9.
Millikin had rallied for two touchdowns in each of its first two game, once in its opening win over Illinois College and again last week in a loss to Ohio Northern. The Big Blue would rally once again in the final period in this game.
Albin finished off a five-minute drive to start the fourth quarter on a 23-yard TD pass to Matt Kormelink to trim the Wabash lead to two scores. The Big Blue would add one of those on a blocked punt by Justin Heumann on the next Wabash offensive series. Sam Jordan scooped up the loose football and raced 30 yards for the touchdown to make it a 31-24 ball game.
Huff rallied the troops once again, leading the Little Giants deep into Millikin territory on the next drive. He almost led the team into the endzone, leaping over Robaer Williams for a 12-yard gain before crashing to the ground and leaving the contest with slight hip injury. Huff was left to cheer from the sidelines as backup Brandon Neighbors handed the football to King for a three-yard rushing touchdown and a 38-24 Wabas lead.
Millikin ran its two-minute offense to perfection, cutting the lead to a touchdown with an 87-yard drive that took only 2:43 off the game clock. The Big Blue had one final shot at trying to steal a victory or at least send the game into overtime in the final minute, moving the ball all the way to the Wabash 31-yard line. But Albin's final pass attempt of the game sailed over Kormelink's head to give Wabash the home victory.
The Little Giants held Millikin to 241 yards through three quarters, but the Big Blue managed to post 199 yards of total offense in the final 15 minutes of play. Wabash had 416 yards of total offense, managing only 21 yards on the ground, and only positive rushing yardage in the final quarter. The Big Blue had 145 yards on the ground in the game while passing for 295 (23-41). The Little Giants did manage two interceptions, one by Chad Peterman and another by Chris Greisl.
Russell had five catches for single game career-bests in yards (144) and TDs (2). Walker, the nation's leader in receiving yards coming into the game, grabbed six passes for 118 yards and one score.
The Little Giants are back at Hollett Little Giant Stadium next weekend as they open NCAC play against Ohio Wesleyan. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
Photos - (main page images) Pynenberg recording a sack against Oberlin in 2005. The junior co-captain made a career-best 20 tackles in Saturday's win over Millikin.
(top left) Pynenberg versus Wittenberg in 2004.
(bottom right) Huff (shown last week against Franklin) threw for a career-best 386 yards while equalling his touchdown passing total from last week with four against Millikin.