It was a game that was never as close as the score indicated. Wabash jumped out to a 48-13 lead before pulling the starters on offense and defense. Little Giant sophomore quarterback Jake Knott (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson) threw for 426 yards and five TDs. Knott completed 26-of-41 passes with two interceptions and one sack. Backup Joe Lonnemann (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) tossed one TD pass, going 3-4 for 53 yards. The Little Giants set a Wabash record for total offense in a game with 711 yards. Wabash used six different ball carriers to finish with 47 carries for 232 yards and four TD on the ground. Freshmen Jason Furgatch (Brownsville, TX/Homer Hanna) and Korey Mauck (Poseyville, IN/North Posey) led the ground attack. Furgatch had nine carries for 93 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown run. Mauck had 17 carries for 81 yards and one TD.
Freshman kicker Olmy Olmstead (Alexandria, OH/Granville) survived a baptism by fire on Saturday. Kicking in his first varsity game due to an season-ending injury to Todd Bower, Olmstead managed to set the Wabash single-game record for extra-point kicks with nine after missing his first attempt. The straight-on kicker broke the mark of eight set by Bob Schwab in 1952.
Senior defensive tackle B.J. Hammer (Carmel, IN/Carmel) continued his solid play this season, adding four tackles (three for losses) and 2.5 sacks to his season totals. His sacks set a single-season record at Wabash. Hammer has 15 sacks this season, breaking the mark of 13.5 set by Chet Craft in 1997. He also owns the career sack record at Wabash with 27.5 sakcs in 31 games. Hammer already set the career record for tackles for loss, and has the longest fumble return in school history, a 93-yarder last week against Allegheny.
Wabash recorded eight sacks against Denison, and held the Big Red to a -29 rushing yards in the game. Denison quarterback Greg Neuendorf set an NCAC record by thowing 76 passes while playing the entire game. Neuendorg finished 36-76 with 2 interceptions and four touchdowns for 494 yards. The 494 yards sets a record for passing yardage by a Wabash opponent in a game.
The Little Giant move to 6-3, 5-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Denison falls to 1-8, 1-5 in the NCAC.
Wabash will face DePauw University in the one of the biggest rivalries in college football, the 107th Monon Bell Classic. Gametime for the nationally telecast game is set for 1:08 p.m. next Saturday. DePauw leads the series 49-48-9.