Wabash scored a two-point conversion in overtime to win 39-38 at Denison Saturday to remain undefeated on the season and capture the football program's 700th all-time victory.
The Little Giants are only the second college program in the state of Indiana to win 700 or more games overall. Notre Dame leads the way with 922 victories. Purdue is third on the list with 623 wins.
Wabash (4-0, 3-0 NCAC) trailed 38-31 after Denison (3-2, 3-1)scored on a six-play drive in overtime and kicked the extra point.
Liam Thompson completed a pair of passes to
Cooper Sullivan along with two running plays to get the Little Giants to the one-yard line on first down. Sophomore
Donovan Snyder pounded the ball into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game to set up the extra-point attempt.
Wabash kept the offense on the field for the two-point try. Thompson rolled right after the Little Giants sent a pair of players in motion to the right side. With the entire Denison defense following him to the right, Thompson found a wide-open
Jackson Clayborne in the end zone to convert the two-point play and give Wabash the 39-38 victory.
The Little Giants led 17-14 at halftime before Denison returned the opening kick of the second half 93 yards for a touchdown to take a 21-17 lead. The Big Red capped a quarter-killing, 17-play, 90-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal to move in front 24-17 heading into the final period of regulation.
Wabash responded with a nine-play drive to open the fourth quarter. The Little Giants completed the 75-yard march with a six-yard TD pass from Thompson to Sullivan to knot the score at 24-24.
The two teams traded the football on three consecutive drives before Wabash regained the lead on a one-yard TD run by Snyder to finish off a nine-play, 70-yard drive to give the Little Giants the 31-24 lead.
Denison responded with a final eight-play drive that covered 76 yards to tie the game at 31-31 on a 27-yard TD pass from Big Red quarterback Drew Dawkins to DJ Johnson just before the end of regulation.
Wabash outgained Denison 347 yards to 339. The Little Giants ran for 125 yards and threw for 222. Denison picked up 193 rushing yards and threw for 146 yards.
Thompson finished the game 19-of-36 passing with three TDs. He also ran for a team-high 81 yards. Sullivan hauled in a team-best 11 passes for 130 yards and one score. Clayborne added a 23-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter to his totals.
Heisman Skeens caught a nine-yard TD pass in the first period to give the Little Giants a 14-0 lead. Denison scored two second-period TDs to match the Wabash offensive output. A 34-yard field goal by
Jacob Handley provided the three-point halftime margin for Wabash.
The one-point victory keeps the Wabash record unblemished for the season. The Little Giants are tied atop the NCAC standings with a 3-0 conference mark with DePauw University, also 3-0 in conference play. The Tigers are 3-1 overall for the season.
Wabash returns to Little Giant Stadium next Saturday for a home game against Oberlin College. The kickoff is at 2 p.m.