The sense of relief and a little bit more confidence could be seen in Wabash College football players following Saturday's 38-31 victory over Millikin.
The Little Giants knew going into the contest they would be facing a tough Big Blue squad. Millikin is a member of the highly competitive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Millikin was coming off a hard-fought 28-14 loss to Ohio Northern, the only team to defeat Division III champion Mt. Union last season. And the Big Blue featured one of the top running backs in the CCIW in senior Nathan Wallick.Despite nearly giving up a 31-9 fourth-quarter lead, Wabash knew it had picked up a much needed win coming off its 45-38 overtime loss to Franklin in Week One. The Little Giant players knew the win was equally important with North Coast Athletic Conference play beginning Saturday when the Little Giants host Ohio Wesleyan.
"We obviously have some areas we need to work on, but this was a nice win for us," said Wabash junior wide receiver Mike Russell, who had the first multiple-touchdown game of his collegiate career with five catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. "Millikin is a good team. They are a playoff-caliber team."
"There are still some things we need to get better at, but we picked up a good win against a very good Millikin ball club," Wabash coach Chris Creighton said.
Defensive stopper
When Millikin's offense had the football, there was rarely a play that went by when Adi Pynenberg's name wasn't announced over the loud speaker at Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium. Pynenberg, a 2006 Preseason All-American, finished Saturday's contest with a career-high 20 tackles. It was the third-best single game effort in Little Giant history. Jim Kilbane ’80 twice made 20 tackles, one of those games coming against Millikin in 1982.Pynenberg, who had 11 tackles by halftime, finished the contest with 10 solo tackles and assisted on another 10. He had 11/2 tackles for a loss, including a 4-yard quarterback sack.
Pynenberg now has 31 tackles through two games.
Big passing numbers
Dustin Huff continues to shine while making his first quarterback starts since 2004, providing two 300-plus passing games. Huff passed for 313 yards against Franklin, then followed that with a 386-yard effort against Millikin. Huff completed 22 passes, four of those for touchdowns. He has passed for eight touchdowns through two games.
Huff ranks second in the NCAC with his average of 349.5 passing yards per game. He only trails Earlham's Justin Rummell, who has averaged 381.7 passing yards through two games. Rummell has thrown 13 touchdown passes.
Kickoff return woes
Wabash ranks eighth in the NCAC in kickoff coverage, allowing its first two opponents an average of 21.6 yards per return. In the opening game against Franklin, the Grizzlies returned seven kickoffs for 175 yards, an average of 25 yards a return. In the third quarter against the Grizzlies, Franklin's Danny Sears returned one kickoff 59 yards and another 45 yards.
Millikin on Saturday returned seven kickoffs for 127 yards, an average of 18.1 yards per return. Ohio Wesleyan comes into Saturday ranked fifth in the conference in kickoff returns, averaging 18.5 yards per return.
Wilson is the sports editor for the Crawfordsville Journal Review.