Wabash College and DePauw University meet for the 123^rd time Saturday to claim the 300-pound locomotive ball that lends its name to the game itself — The Monon Bell Classic.
 
The Little Giants have prepared in order to win the prize for an unprecedented eighth straight season. Wabash won last year's meeting between the two squads 45-17 in Greencastle to tie the seven consecutives wins from 1921-1927 over DePauw as the longest in the rivalry's history.
 
A victory by Wabash (8-1, 7-1 NCAC) can also ensure no less than a tie for the North Coast Athletic Conference title. A Little Giant victory coupled with a Wittenberg loss at Allegheny Saturday afternoon would give Wabash sole possession of the conference title and the NCAC automatic berth in the NCAA DIII football playoffs as one of 32 participating teams.
 
Standing in the Little Giants' path — a talented and much improved DePauw football team with one of the top offenses in Division III.
 
The Tigers (7-2, 6-2 NCAC) average nearly 500 yards of total offense a game with a balance of 227.1 rushing yards and 265.3 passing yards a contest. Senior quarterback Matt Hunt has started the previous three Bell games at quarterback for DePauw. The offense literally runs through him. Hunt is the top rusher for the Tigers with an average of 87.6 yards per game. He has accounted for for seven of DePauw's 22 rushing touchdowns over nine games. Hunt is also a prolific passer; averaging 259.9 yards on 230-of 353 pass attempts this season. He has thrown for 24 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
 
"DePauw is the best offensive team in our conference statistically," Wabash head coach Don Morel said. "They're going to throw it about 60 times Saturday. Matt Hunt makes his fourth start against the Little Giants. We recruited him out of Heritage Christian High School. He's a great player. I think he'll be the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year. We will have to play a great game on defense to try and contain him."
 
Hunt's favorite target is his younger brother, sophomore wide receiver Andy Hunt. The Hunt-to-Hunt connection has produced 65 receptions for 668 yards and nine TDs. Of DePauw's 4,432 yards of offense this season, the Hunt brothers have been involved in 1,482 yards. Andy is not only wide receiver threat for the Tigers. Ian Good has caught 57 passes for 484 yards and three TDs. Tailback Jason Kirchhoff has accounted for 28 receptions for 204 yards and one score to go with 673 rushing yards and six TDs.
 
DePauw has been aggressive all season on defense. The Tigers rank 12^th in the nation with an average of 3.56 sacks per game and are 13^th with an average of 8.7 tackles for loss a contest. Nat Orrison paces the unit with 12-1/2 tackles for loss totaling 86 yards along with 8-1/2 sacks for 73 yards. Adding to the pressure up front, the DePauw secondary has created a league best 19 interceptions, led by six from Brooks Hepp.
 
Wabash will need its own brand of quarterback pressure to try and hold DePauw at bay. Last week the Little Giants faced a similar style of offense playing at Denison. The Little Giants finished the game with seven tackles for losses, four sacks, and forced five turnovers in a 22-14 win to remain in the hunt for a share of the NCAC crown. Austin Brown grabbed one interception and recovered a fumble, CJ McMann and Delon Pettiford added two more interceptions. Connor Ludwig and Ethan Buresh combined for forced fumble and recovery. Buresh made one of the game's biggest plays in the final minute, recording his second sack of the game for a safety to provide the eight-point margin.
 
The Little Giants will also need to remain efficient on offense. Wabash proved unable to produce any long drives against the Big Red but took advantage of the turnovers to take the early lead and hold on in the final two periods. Senior quarterback Connor Rice has been efficient throughout the year. He has completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,424 yards and 14 touchdowns. The combined rushing attack for Wabash has averaged 222.6 yards per game and has scored 23 times.
 
With the drive for an eighth consecutive Bell win, a share of the conference title, and playoff possibilities still existing,, Morel is ready to get his first Monon Bell game as head coach started.
 
"Im really thankful I've been here five years and been through four Monon Bell games as an assistant coach. I can't imagine being a new head coach here and going through the Bell madness. I'm looking forward to Saturday.  I think it really highlights Wabash College  and what the College is really all about. I know our alums love it. I know the stadium is going to be packed. I'm also really excited about all the new tailgating, the Monon Village. I think all of that is really a good idea and will really enhance the Monon Bell game experience."
 
Kickoff is at 1:09 p.m. at Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium. The game will be broadcast by AXS Television beginning at 1 p.m. Those unable to receive the AXS broadcast on TV can view the game online at www.wabash.edu/live beginning at 1 p.m. WNDY (91.3 FM) will also provide radio coverage of the game. Game tickets have sold out, but fans hoping to purchase a ticket can sign up waiting list for any possible added seats over the final two days prior to kickoff.
 
Wabash leads the all-time series 60-52-9 and holds a 41-37-6 edge since the Monon Railroad donated the Bell as the victor's reward in 1932.