Wabash’s football team enters Saturday’s 1 p.m. North Coast Athletic Conference opener at Denison still unsure if last year’s leading rusher will be available. Junior Evan Sobecki, who rushed for 743 yards last season, left last Saturday’s scrimmage against Wheaton after one play because of a left ankle injury. Wabash first-year coach Erik Raeburn said during Wednesday’s press conference that Sobecki remains on a day-today basis. He didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday.
"He would be listed as doubtful if we were in the NFL," Raeburn said. "We have been having him take mental reps during practice, so if he would be cleared by the physicians then he would be mentally ready to go Saturday. He has been taking treatment and doing all he can to be ready to go."
Raeburn said the Little Giants have practiced this week as if Sobecki wouldn’t be available Saturday, so if he would become available that would be an added bonus. Sobecki is one of four players all vying for time in the Little Giant backfield. Also in the rotation are sophomore Derrick Yoder and seniors Bobby Kimp and Adam Pilli. Kimp and Pilli both saw time in the backfield last season, with Kimp rushing 33 times for 116 yards and Pilli rushing nine times for 28 yards.
After Sobecki went down in the scrimmage, Yoder took his place and in the opening half rushed eight times for 27 yards. He finished the game with nine carries for 28 yards. Pilli rushed for a 25-yard touchdown in the second half, while Kimp had three carries for eight yards.
"We have had all those other three guys practicing this week," Raeburn said. "Then if we have Evan we will throw him in the mix."
Beyond Sobecki, Raeburn said there are a couple of other players who aren’t 100 percent but he hopes to have them Saturday. He has been putting younger players in those positions to give them more reps, knowing they might be called upon Saturday.
The Little Giants come to Denison with a new coach and different offensive and defensive philosophy.
Because of that, Raeburn wishes the Little Giants would have opened against a non-conference opponent, so the younger players could get some of the first-game jitters out and if things do go wrong it wouldn’t make such a big impact in the conference standings.
"I think if you talk to any coach, they would tell you they would rather start with non-conference instead of conference," Raeburn said.
Not only do the Little Giants have to start with a conference opponent, they also open with a team returning experience. Denison returns eight offensive starters and nine defensive starters from last year’s team that finished 4-6 and won three of its last four games.
Senior quarterback Mike Barnes leads the list of returners. The 2008 NCAC Indoor Track and Field Sprinter of the Year, Barnes made the move from corner back to quarterback three games into last season. He finished last season with 788 passing yards and 293 rushing yards.Barnes tied a school record with 270 rushing yards and also passed for 175 yards, leading the Big Red to a 49-27 victory over Kalamazoo. He gained NCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.
Because Wabash didn’t have a game Saturday, the Little Giants were unable to see the tape of Denison’s opener against Kalamazoo. The two teams exchanged scrimmage tapes.
"From what I understand he is just unbelievably fast and he just made some highlight-reel runs," Raeburn said. "The first thing we have to do on defense to slow him down is just be disciplined. Then we just can’t miss tackles."
Behind Barnes’ efforts and senior fullback Jon Berg rushing 10 times for 72 yards, the Big Red compiled 356 rushing yards Saturday.
"They have a good running back that was overshadowed by what the quarterback did," Raeburn said. "They feel like they have a lot of depth at running back. And then when you have a quarterback that can also run, that makes you that much more dangerous."
The Little Giants return a different-style quarterback than Barnes. Matt Hudson returns for his junior season after throwing for 2,769 yards and 25 touchdowns while helping Wabash to the final eight of the Division III Playoffs last season.
Four of Hudson’s top receiving candidates — Mike Russell, Bart Banach, Gabe Guerrero and Ray Green — all graduated after last season. Senior Andrew Rode, who caught 26 passes for 336 yards and one touchdown last season, is slated for one of starting receiver spots. Sophomore Wes Chamblee, who had one catch for nine yards last season, is slated as the other starting receiver.