Wabash College Gamenotes (pdf)

OWU Gamenotes (pdf)

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The Wabash football team defeated Wooster 48-14 last week to continue its roll through the 2013 season. Saturday Ohio Wesleyan University and 2012 North Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year Mason Espinoso visit Hollett Little Giant Stadium to provide the next challenge for Wabash.

Last year Ohio Wesleyan (3-1, 2-1 NCAC) held Wabash to a 0-0 tie after one half in last year's contest before Wabash scored four second-half touchdowns in a 28-0 victory. The Little Giants enter Saturday's game ranked 17th by D3football.com and 15th by the American Football Coaches Association with a record of 4-0 overall and 3-0 in NCAC games.

"We had four or five penalties in the first half last year against them," Coach Erik Raeburn said about the previous matchup with the Bishops. "Most of those were pre-snap penalties. We turned the ball over twice — threw a pick and fumbled — and I think they sacked us four times in the first half. Those are three important things we talk about all the time, and last year in the first half, we were terrible at all three."

The Little Giant offense will rely on its running game for a strong start Saturday. Running back Mason Zurek and the offensive line started fast at Wooster when Zurek raced down the right sideline for an 82-yard touchdown on the first series. He finished with 228 yards and 2 touchdowns. Receiver Jon Laird said a strong start begins in practice.

"I remember last year during the OWU week, we had a couple days of practice that weren't up to par," receiver Jon Laird said. "It reflected in the first half of the game because we weren't ready."

The Wabash defense will need to practice well in the week too. First-team All-Conference quarterback Mason Espinosa commands the potent Ohio Wesleyan passing attack. Despite the shutout, Espinosa completed 52-of-75 passes for 428 yards against Wabash last year. Raeburn attributed the statistical anomaly to Espinosa's accuracy in the short passing game.

"We have to do a great job challenging the throws, and our tackling has to be excellent," Raeburn said. "When you play those spread teams, every tackle seemingly is an open-field tackle. And if you miss, those six-yard throws turn into 20-yard gains."
The wide receiver screens and quick passes will put the onus on defensive backs to make open-field tackles. As Raeburn noted, the Bishops will have a big day if Wabash can't stop them in the open field. Espinosa has thrown for 1433 yards and 10 touchdowns to only 1 interception this season.
"The biggest thing is getting off blocks," cornerback and receiver Houston Hodges said. "The nickel and corner can really disrupt those plays using their hands to get off blocks and making sure those guys cut in. And our guys in the front seven are really fast."
Hodges returned to the defense for the first time in the 2013 season at Wooster. He made 3 tackles and grabbed his first interception of the season in limited action. The Plymouth, Ind. native started at corner his freshman and sophomore years, but had only played receiver this season.
"The previous games, a couple of those teams were more run oriented," Raeburn explained. "So we felt like we could use him every snap on offense and be OK. As their quarterback was, we wanted to get him out there and get some reps in on defense."
Jonathan Valentine powers the Bishops defense up front. The senior defensive end leads the nation with 11 sacks. He posted 2.5 sacks against Wabash last year.
"He's one of the faster guys in the conference and he has really good change of direction and rip move," Wabash left tackle Wes Brown said. "On a couple of his sacks, the offensive lineman weren't really moving their feet and they were waiting for him, then he ripped right over them. When they start over correcting, he gives a spin move back inside."
Safety Rayce Risser leads the team with 36 tackles from the back end. Long Wabash runs likely won't occur unless he gets blocked. However, Laird and the rest of the receivers have selflessly excelled in down-field blocking.
"We understand our role on the team," Laird said. "I don't care how many receptions I have this year, as long as we're winning I'm going to block my tail off. You have to be able to run the ball and receivers area a key instrument in turning a 10-yard run into a 50-yard run."
Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. in Byron P. Hollet Little Giant Stadium.