Stingy red zone defense and a dramatic hold on fourth down sealed a 24-17 win for the Wabash football team this Saturday against Wittenberg. The game, as usual, came with huge playoff implications, as the winner of this game has won the conference and earned a playoff berth eight of the last 10 years.
Wabash’s defense set the tone early, as two Wittenberg trips to the red zone amounted in just three points.
“That’s one great characteristic of our defense,” said senior linebacker Andy Deig. “We always keep fighting, and even when we’re backed up against our own goal line, we understand the importance of forcing three rather than a touchdown. It’s an attitude.”
The red zone stands became the key to the game, namely the one at the very end of the game that ended in a dropped pass and a Wabash win.
The offense showed some explosiveness early, as sophomore quarterback Matt Hudson hit senior receiver Ray Greene for a 54 yard touchdown pass for the Little Giants’ first score. Hudson had a huge day, going 23-34 for 293 yards and a touchdown.
“Hudson’s gotten better each week,” said Head Coach Chris Creighton. “He really wants to do his part do get us wins and he’s been doing it.”
The offense also saw the first big game for senior receiver Mike Russell, who has been battling an injury all season. Russell finished with 9 catches for 101 yards.
On the ground, Wabash was led by sophomore Evan Sobecki and freshman CP Porter, who combined for 95 yards. Sobecki even added a touchdown pass on a trick play to Mike Russell.
With 11 minutes left, sophomore J-Back Brock Graham ran in for a touchdown to put Wabash up 24-10. But Wittenberg refused to quit, responding with a 12- play, 74 yard drive to come within one score with 5:37 remaining.
After recovering an onside kick, the game appeared to be over as the Little Giants would simply run out the remainder of the clock. But a Sobecki fumble would set up a final drive from Wittenberg quarterback Aaron Huffman.
After a 48 yard pass into Wabash territory, the Tigers found themselves in perfect position to tie to game. But two penalties and three incompletion later, Wittenberg had one last fourth- down chance.
Huffman found a wide open Andy Vanover on the sideline, but the pass was dropped, securing Wabash’s win and the inside track to an NCAC championship.
“When I saw the ball go up and Rich (Lehman) wasn’t by him, I was thinking ‘Not again, we can’t do this to our offense again,’” said Deig, referring to last year’s 19-17 loss. “But when I saw the ball hit the ground, it was one of the best feelings I’ve had in a football game.”
The Little Giants don’t have too much time to enjoy their win, with Oberlin coming into town this Saturday.
“Oberlin is a very dangerous team,” Deig said. “They are very talented at the skill positions.”
One of those talented players is receiver/returner Chris Schubert, who has 1386 this season.
“(Schubert) has been a real thorn in our side the last two years,” Creighton said. “He’s really, really good.”
After such a big win, Creghton will be working to make sure his team doesn’t have a letdown this week.
“Our theme for this week is ‘On fire?!” Cregihton said. “I believe we’re on fire now, but are we going to flame out or keep fueling the flames?”
Only a few teams remain in the way of a playoff berth, but the team is confident that if they work to improve themselves, they will be where they want to be.
“When we play teams, we’re really playing against ourselves,” said Deig. “It’s not about the team. It’s about us and what we do. And we have a lot of work over the next few weeks to get to where we need to be, and that’s a powerful team in the playoffs.”