The Wabash football team will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Sunday, the NCAA announced that the Little Giants earned one of six at-large bids after a 9-1 season, and will play host to in-state school Franklin College.
"I'm particularly excited for our seniors to make it back and have another opportunity to play in the playoffs," Coach Erik Raeburn said. "I thought our guys played really well all year with the exception of one game so I'm thankful we have the opportunity to play."
The Little Giants capped the regular season Saturday with a 27-3 win in the 121st Monon Bell Classic. Wabash finished fourth in the country in total defense (214.6-yards allowed per game) and second in rush defense (58-yards allowed). The Little Giants are also 12th in scoring defense at 12.6-points per game.
The Grizzlies finished with an 8-2 record including an unblemished mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference to earn their fifth-straight conference title.Franklin is appearing in the playoffs for the seventh time, and the Grizzlies have won their first-round games in each of the last three seasons. Franklin has won eight straight games since opening the 2014 season with back-to-back losses at Illinois Wesleyan and at home to defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater.
As has been the case in the last five seasons, Franklin's strength is on offense. The team averages almost 480 yards and 42 points per game.
Senior quarterback Grant Welp has adjusted well after replacing All-American Johnny West. The 6-3, 210-pounder has completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,127 yards and 31 touchdowns with just seven interceptions in 352 throws. Welp is a major threat in the running game with eight touchdowns on the ground.
The receiving corps is sure-handed and deep. Five players have caught at least 25 passes this year and scored four or more touchdowns. Seniors Johnny Hession (52 catches, 9 TDs) and Zach Cole (50 catches, 4 TDs) create matchup problems for defenses. Junior Mason Deal is the team's best deep-threat receiver, averaging 16.3 yards on 34 receptions.
Versatile senior running back Joey Pasquale is also a force out of the backfield with 46 receptions and five touchdowns. Pasquale leads the team with 596 rushing yards and six scores
"Right now, we're just thankful that we got in," Raeburn said. "Who we play is kind of secondary to getting an opportunity to play another game."
Ticket information for the game will be announced Monday. Kickoff will be at 12 p.m. Saturday from Hollett Little Giant Stadium.
