Wabash College fell to two-time defending Division III national champion Mount Union College 45-16 on Saturday afternoon. The loss ended an unprecedented 19-game winning streak for the Little Giants and ended what is arguably the greatest season in the history of Wabash football.
At the end of the game it was difficult to tell the final score. Just as they had in the 12 previous victories, the fans sang “Old Wabash” when the clock stopped ticking in the final period. The Little Giant players, coaches, staff, and even some of the alumni on the field to show their support of this football team listened as Head Coach Chris Creighton addressed the team after the game. Then, to a man, they gathered to sing the school song one final time in a salute to the Wabash fans that have supported this team not only at Alliance on this afternoon, but throughout the season.
In the game itself, turnovers proved costly for a team that has made a living of off forcing mistakes by the other team. Wabash entered the game having forced 23 more turnovers than it had committed. But Mount Union capitalized on three interceptions and a Wabash fumble on the goal line to keep the Little Giants at bay throughout the game. The Purple Raiders scored 17 points off of Wabash turnovers, including a 21-yard interception return by Chris Carter near the end of the first half.
Mount Union jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead. A field goal by the Purple Raiders made it a 17-0 contest before junior Olmy Olmstead (Alexandria, OH/Granville) connected on a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter. A TD run by Dan Pugh with 2:35 left in the half came just ahead of the Carter interception return, giving Mount Union a 31-3 halftime lead.
Wabash scored to open the third period, capping a 14-play, 64 yard drive with a Chris Morris (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville) (photo right) two-yard run.
But the passing attack of Mount Union was unstoppable on Saturday afternoon. Senior quarterback Rob Adamson threw a second touchdown pass to Randell Knapp with 5:07 remaining in the third quarter to answer the Wabash score. Knapp and Adamson connected earlier in the game to put the first points on the scoreboard for the Purple Raiders.
Another Pugh TD came midway through the fourth quarter to put the icing on the 40th consecutive victory for Mount Union. Pugh finished the game with 25 carries for 165 yards and two TDs, numbers nearly equaled by Morris. The Wabash junior carried 34 times for 159 yards and one score. Morris also moved into fourth place on the Wabash all-time rushing list with 2,528 yards. His 19 rushing touchdowns this season fell one short of the single-season record set by Daryl Johnson ’82 in 1980.
The rest of the career numbers for several seniors will remain in the Wabash record books for a long time. Senior linebacker Nate Boulais (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) finished his career with 364 tackles, the second-most in Wabash history. He led the Little Giants in stops all four years of his Wabash career, finishing with 102 this season.
For senior tight end Ryan Short (Indianapolis, IN/Perry Meridian) the numbers are just as impressive. He finished his four-year stint with 243 receptions for 2,773 yards and 45 TDs, more touchdown receptions than any other player in Indiana collegiate history. He set career marks in receptions and touchdown catches at Wabash and broke his own single-season TD reception record again this year with 17 scoring grabs.
And then there is the mark left by senior quarterback Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson). It would take all day to list all of his accomplishments as the signal caller for the Little Giants. He started every game of his four-year career, throwing for more yards (11,213) than any other Indiana college quarterback to ever wear a uniform except his friend from Purdue University, Drew Brees. Knott is one of only nine quarterbacks in the history of the NCAA to throw for more than 11,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in a career. He finished his Wabash career with two North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year Awards and every Wabash College passing record.
The rest of the senior class left their mark, as well. The senior led this football team to new territory – an undisputed claim of the NCAC championship, the best single-season record in Wabash history, two playoff victories, and two outstanding performances in the past two Monon Bell games.
The 2002 ride may be over after Saturday’s loss to Mount Union. Wabash is one several teams to see its season end in Alliance, Ohio. But the hunger for success has not been filled. As great as this season has been, ask any of those seniors and they would be ready to do it all over again to make one more play. And for the junior, sophomores, and freshman, they’re prepared to do what it takes to make a difference next season.
Get your ticket for another great ride in 2003. This team is ready to deliver again.