One week after stopping one of the best quarterbacks they'll face this season, Wabash College football team's defense Saturday will be facing one of the top running backs in the North Coast Athletic Conference.
The Little Giants were able to contain Earlham's Justin Rummell in last week's 48-15 win over the Quakers. Saturday, Allegheny and running back Mario Tarquinio make the way to Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium for Wabash's 2 p.m. Homecoming contest.
Tarquinio comes into Saturday ranked fourth in the league with his average of 112 yards per game. Through four games, he has carried the pigskin 80 times for 448 yards and four touchdowns. Tarquinio has exceeded the 2,000-yard plateau for his career and is inching closer to the fifth spot in Allegheny's career rushing list.
Allegheny's offense, however, goes farther than Tarquinio. Quarterback Jimmy Savage, who threw for 1,507 yards while starting all 10 games last season, returns for his senior season. Savage ranks third in the conference with his average of 272 yards per game. Savage has completed 80 passes for 1,088 yards.
Gator coach Mark Matlak credits Tarquinio and Savage's success to a strong offensive line which returns three starters from last year's team that finished 3-7 and 3-4 in league action.
"Our offensive line has been doing a good job protecting our quarterback and with run protection," said Matlak, who is in his fifth season at the Gator helm.
The experienced offense has helped Allegheny turn around last year's three-win season, which included a 27-21 loss to the Little Giants. The Gators already have equaled last year's win total and come to Crawfordsville with a 3-1 record and 1-0 NCAC mark. The Gators' lone loss was a 22-10 decision to Washington & Jefferson in Week 2. Allegheny followed with a 52-7 non-conference win over Hiram in Week 3, then opened its conference season last week with a 23-6 win at Denison.
Wabash comes in with an identical overall record, but is 2-0 in league play. Wabash rebounded from Week One's overtime loss to Franklin by winning its next three games. The Little Giants lead the league in scoring offense with their average of 41.5 points per game. They are second in the league in passing offense and are seventh in rushing offense.
"Wabash is just a fine ball team," Matlak said. "Offensively it is just like they are throwing the ball on air and are putting up ungodly numbers. And they are running the ball well, so it seems like they are clicking on all cylinders."
Wabash's defense has also come around, allowing a season-low 15 points last Saturday. Matlak singled out Wabash junior linebacker Adi Pynenberg, who leads the league with 44 tackles.
"Adi Pynenberg is just a fine football player," Matlak said.
Matlak said Saturday's contest might come down to which team's defense will stop the other team's offense. Allegheny ranks second in the league in total defense, limiting opponents to an average of 312.2 yards per game. Wabash is fifth in the league, limiting teams to 366.2 yards per game.
Matlak also said the kicking game could play a big factor. Allegheny's Josh Whiteside is a perfect 15-for-15 on point after attempts and 5-for-5 on field goals. Wabash's Chad Finley is 22-for-23 on point after attempts and 2-for-3 on field goals.
Allegheny freshman Jason Black leads the league in punting with his average of 38.0 yards per kick. He has punted the ball 11 times for 418 yards.
"This should be a very exciting game," Matlak said.
Wilson is the sports editor for The Journal Review.