DePauw vs. Wabash Game Notes
GAME INFORMATION
The Tigers travel to Crawfordsville for the 107th football meeting with Wabash College in a rivalry that dates back to 1890. The two schools meet for the 69th time for possession of the Monon Bell which entered the series in 1932.
2000 RECORDS
DePauw enters the game on a five-game win streak and with a 5-4 record. The Tigers are coming off a 10-0 win over Rose-Hulman. Wabash is 6-3 after defeating Denison 69-33.
SERIES RECORD
In a series that first began in 1890, DePauw holds a 49-48-9 lead. The Tigers have won the last four meetings including the last two in Crawfordsville. Since the Monon Bell was introduced into the rivalry in 1932, DePauw holds a 33-29-6 advantage.
COACHES
DePauw's Nick Mourouzis, a 1959 Miami University graduate, is in his 20th season with the Tigers and his teams have posted a 120-74-4 record. He ranks among the top 15 in victories among active Division III coaches. He led the Tigers to Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference titles in 1990 and 1996 and his teams have recorded a 10-8-1 record against Wabash.
Greg Carlson, a 1970 Wisconsin-Oshkosh graduate, is in his 18th season with the Little Giants with an overall record of 112-56-2. His next win will tie legendary coach Pete Vaughan for the most wins in Wabash history. He led the Little Giants to ICAC titles in 1991, 1992 and 1994 and a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship in 1998. His teams have recorded a 7-9-1 record against DePauw.
SCOUTING WABASH
The Little Giants enter the game with a 5-3 record after last week's 69-33 win over Denison. The explosive offense ranks 20th in Division III with 35.0 points per game and are led by quarterback Jake Knott. The sophomore ranks eighth in the nation with 291.2 passing yards per game and has directed the Little Giants to 199 points over the last four games. In nine games he has totaled 27 touchdowns and just nine interceptions while throwing for 2,526 yards.
His top receivers include junior Kurt Casper with 78 catches for 968 yards and 12 touchdowns. Casper is third in the country with 8.7 receptions per game and 16th in the nation with 107.6 receiving yards per contest. Sophomore Ryan Short has caught 68 for 825 yards and 12 touchdowns. Short ranks 14th in Division III with 7.6 receptions per game. Running back Korey Mauck leads the way with just under 52 rushing yards per game. The offensive line has provided Knott with good protection as they've allowed just 15 sacks.
The Wabash defense ranks 23rd in Division III by allowing just 82.7 rushing yards per game. Nose tackle B.J. Hammer leads the unit and has totaled 22 tackles for loss including 15 sacks totaling 110 yards. Hammer has also recovered three fumbles and returned them 157 yards including one for a 93-yard score. Treven Upkes leads with 79 tackles followed by Nathan Boulais with 76. Chad Springer and Lonnie Heck have each intercepted three passes on the year. The team has totaled 45 sacks for the year for losses of 276 yards.
LAST YEAR'S MEETING
With all of the scoring coming in the first half, the Tigers held on for a 21-7 victory over rival Wabash.
LAST WEEK'S TIGER WIN
The Tiger defense recorded its first shutout of the season and held visiting Rose-Hulman to just 155 yards of offense and only 23 on the ground on the way to a 10-0 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference victory.
DEPAUW'S WEEK-NINE MVPs
Jeff King earned MVP honors on offense after picking up 74 rushing yards on just 13 carries for a 5.7 yard average per carry. Included in that was a 1-yard touchdown run. John Christophersen was the defensive MVP after picking up two interceptions including one that led to the Tigers' only touchdown. John Stephens picked up special team honors with four punt returns totaling 63 yards including a long of 26 yards.
DEPAUW TEAM NOTES
DePauw has now won 22 of 24 games over the second half of the last five
seasons and all 13 following the midseason break of each of the last three seasons . The DePauw defense has limited its last four opponents to a combined 53 rushing yards in 98 attempts marking the first time that has happened since at least the early 1950s . The Tigers have scored on 25 of 30 possessions inside the opponents' 20 for 141 points, while opponents are 14 of 21 for 73 points.
DEPAUW INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Joe Schoen ranks third in career receptions with 139 and also ranks seventh with 1,740 career receiving yards. His 66 catches this season is a school record and his 779 receiving yards is the sixth most ... Schoen's record broke the mark set by Jay True in 1978 ... Jason Lee's 1,918 passing yards this year ranks fifth in school history for a season . Dan Ryan leads the team and the conference with 66 points and has tied the single-season touchdown reception record with 11 ... Ryan leads the SCAC in receiving yards per game with 112.7, while Schoen is third with 90.7 ... Ryan also leads the conference in all-purpose yardage with 112.7 each game ... Kicker Ben Murray is fifth in the SCAC in scoring with 5.1 points per game ... Murray's 46 points this season is the most by a Tiger kicker since Jason Gardner had 53 in 1996 ... John Stephens leads the SCAC in punt return average with 11.3 yards per return ... Frisky Williams leads the team with 19 tackles for loss and Brian Close paces the squad with seven sacks.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Sophomore receiver Dan Ryan is ranked 12th in Division III with 112.7 receiving yards per game and senior Joe Schoen is 16th with 7.3 reception per contest. Ryan is 25th in scoring with 9.4 points per game. Placekicker Ben Murray is tied for 26th with .89 field goals per game. As a team the Tigers rank 22nd in Division III passing offense with 266.8 yards per outing and are 16th in rushing defense at 74.2 yards allowed per game.