Wabash survived an offensive shootout Saturday at Allegheny, winning 48-41 in a game that featured over 1,000 yards of total offense, three lead changes, and two ties in the fourth quarter.
 
The Little Giants (7-2, 6-2 NCAC) amassed 493 yards of total offense, while Allegheny (3-6, 3-5 NCAC) finished with 534. The two teams combined for 683 yards and 62 points in the final 30 minutes of the game.
 
Wabash was forced to play from behind in the first quarter after the host Gators jumped out to a 13-0 lead on two Zach Benarowicz field goals and 1-yard touchdown run by Tyler Balla. The Little Giants rallied in the second period when Dylan Buresh caught a pass from Weston Murphy at the one yard line to set up a touchdown run by Ike James. Buresh found the end zone himself on the next drive with a 21-yard touchdown reception from Murphy to give Wabash the 14-13 lead.
 
The Gators regained the lead to open the third period when junior quarterback Logan Lee connected with Dwaine Barber on a 44-yard touchdown pass, the first of three in the game. James found the end zone on runs of 22 and 49 yards to move the Little Giants in front 28-20. Austin Nightingale entered the game at quarterback and scored on an eight-yard run to make it 34-30 with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Allegheny stormed back on a one-play, 65-yard scoring strike from Lee for sophomore wideout Alex Victor. The two hooked up for the 13^th time this season for a touchdown to cut the Wabash lead to seven. The Gators tied the game at 34-34 with Balla's 22-yard run with 12:40 on the fourth-quarter game clock.
 
Wabash jumped back in front after taking possession of the football after a punt at the Allegheny 42-yard line. Murphy threw downfield to Ra'shawn Jones, hitting the sophomore receiver for a touchdown pass to put the Little Giants up 41-34. The Gators needed just five plays to draw even again with 2:32 left in regulation when Lee found Angel Alvarez open down the middle of the field for a 25-yard touchdown pass, 41-41.
 
The Little Giants took over at their own 37 yard line after the ensuing kickoff. A pass from Murphy to Bobby Blum for five yards set up second and five. Murphy rolled out to his right, trying to escape pressure from the Allegheny defense. He threw the ball into coverage for what seemed to be an interception, but the officials ruled his knee touchdown on a sack just before he released the ball. The sophomore quarterback took advantage of the opportunity, connecting with Buresh on the next play on a 22-yard pass, setting up a 26-yard by James to move the ball to the Allegheny 11.
 
Three plays later Wabash faced a fourth-and-one from the Gators' two. The Little Giants used a hard count to get the Allegheny defense to jump, creating a first-and-goal situation from the one. James ran in from the left side for his fourth touchdown of the game to put Wabash back in front 48-41 with 35 seconds left in regulation.
 
Lee moved the Gators out to midfield with a pair of passes, forcing Wabash to call a timeout with 16 seconds left in the fourth. Lee dropped back to pass but could not find an open receiver and began to run up the middle. Linebacker Byshup Rhodes hit Lee for the fifth Wabash sack of the game and forced the football loose. Deonte Simpson recovered the fumble to secure the ball and the game for the Little Giants.
 
James finished with 25 carries for 160 yards and four TDs. He moved into fifth place on the Wabash single-season rushing yardage list with 1,232 yards through nine games. Isaac Avant ran for 88 yards on 11 carries. Murphy completed 13-of-23 passes with two touchdowns for a career-best 220 yards. Buresh led the receiving corps with four catches for 70 yards and one score. Matt Penola and Koty Hall each finished with three receptions.
 
Lee threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-33 passing. Alvarez hauled in nine passes for 89 yards and one touchdown. Victor added three catches for 157 yards and a touchdown. Balla led the rushing attack with 157 yards and two TDs on 24 attempts.
 
Klay Fullenkamp paced the Wabash defense with seven tackles. Rhodes recorded 1-1/2 sacks along with one each for Evan Hansen, Lucas Bucina, and Satchel Burton. Brock Heffron made six tackles, including a half sack.
 
The Little Giant now prepare to travel to Greencastle, Indiana on Saturday, November 11 to face DePauw University in the 124^th Monon Bell Classic. Tickets on the Wabash side of the stands are available for purchase at www.ticketor.com/wabash. The game will be broadcast by FoxSports Midwest and FoxSports Indiana and will also be available live on Fox College Sports and online using the FoxSportsGo app. Coverage begins at 1 p.m.