11/13/2009 12:01:00 AM 116TH MONON BELL PREVIEW: Huge implications for Monon Wabash still alive for at-large playoff berth, DePauw already in
Photo provided by Wabash College
Wabash offensive lineman Jeremy Morris (red, left) and Skip Tokar (red, right) try to block a DePauw defender in last year’s Monon Bell game.
WHAT: 116th Monon Bell Game
WHO: No. 15 Wabash (8-1) at DePauw (7-1)
WHERE: Blackstock Stadium in Greencastle, Ind.
WHEN: Saturday
TIME: 1:07 p.m.
RADIO: 91.3 FM (WNDY)
NOTES: The series is tied at 53-53-9 . . . DePauw has won the last two Monon Bell games . . . Wabash is still alive for an NCAA Division III at-large playoff bid. A win over its in-state rival and a South Region ranked team would help the Little Giants' chances to make their fourth-straight playoff trip . . . DePauw has already clinched a share of the Southern
Collegiate Athletic Conference title and an NCAA Division III automatic qualifying bid (its' first in school history) . . . DePauw interim head coach Robby Long will make his Monon Bell game head coaching debut, while this will be Erik Raeburn's second at Wabash.
Kody LeMond admitted watching film of last year's Monon Bell blowout was tough to stomach.
Wabash College's junior wide receiver hated seeing in-state rival DePauw roll past the Little Giants.
Even worse, he thinks he started the whole debacle when he fell down on a first-quarter route and senior quarterback Matt Hudson threw his first of four interceptions in the game.
That play still eats at him.
"They got the best of us last year. I feel like they got the best of me, especially," said LeMond, who leads the team with 52 catches for 893 yards and 13 touchdowns. "I remember that. I have a chip on my shoulder and we do as a team."
This year, Wabash won't enter the 116th Monon Bell game undefeated. The Little Giants already have one loss - and another could end their chances for their third-straight NCAA Division III playoff berth.
When Wabash (8-1) heads to in-state rival DePauw (7-1) for Saturday's 1:07 p.m. Monon Bell game, the No. 15 Little Giants have plenty at stake.
They still have a shot at earning an at-large NCAA Division III playoff berth, and a win could give them a key signature victory over a South Region ranked opponent.
Meanwhile, under first-year interim head coach Robby Long, DePauw has already clinched a share of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title.
And the Tigers have also earned the conference's automatic NCAA Division III playoff berth (a first in school history).
For Wabash, it's likely win and they're in. Lose, and they're out.
"The way I see it we're in the playoffs right now," Hudson said. "If we win, we're in the playoffs. If we lose, I'll be shocked if we don't go home. This is the playoffs to me."
This game also gives Wabash the chance to end its two-game Monon Bell game losing streak and to break the 53-53-9 series tie.
But they'll have to find a way to run the ball against DePauw's defense.
Wabash's running game has been grounded each of the last two years. The Little Giants have been held to less than 80 yards each of those games (79 yards on 26 carries in 2008 and 61 yards on 19 carries in 2007).
Without a running game, that's put more pressure on Hudson and they've had to continue to try to come from behind.
Second-year Little Giants' head coach Erik Raeburn said that's got to change.
"Matt took the hit for his four picks. But the other culprit was that we couldn't run the football. They put pressure on our quarterback and didn't have to worry about the run. We became one-dimensional," he said. "We need to block better and run the ball harder. They got off of the blocks, filled the gaps and did a great job defending the run. They played harder up front than we did."
This year, Wabash has rushed for 165.1 yards per game and scored 18 rushing touchdowns (two per game).
The Little Giants continue to go with a running back by committee approach. Junior Tommy Mambourg (145 carries, 678 yards, 4 TD's) and freshman Kyle Stevens (54 carries, 215 yards, 2 TD's) lead the way.
But the team also has junior Derrick Yoder (19 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD) finally near-healthy and focused.
Yoder missed the first five games with a torn right medical collateral ligament (MCL).
He returned against conference rival Wittenberg midway through last month and rushed for 26 yards on five carries in last weekend's 41-0 win over conference foe Hiram.
"I was nervous last year because it was my first Bell game. More than anything, I'm more focused right now," Yoder said. "It will be important for one or two running backs to get into a groove in the Bell game. If one running back is running well against DePauw, it's not going to take them out. If the committee runs well, we'll do better."
Senior offensive lineman Skip Tokar agreed. He was frustrated with the way the offensive line played last year.
"The key is for us to be able to run the ball. Last year we were one-dimensional," said Tokar, whose team threw 44 passes and had 26 rushing attempts last year. "Being one-dimensional is bad for an offense. Last year, we got behind and didn't run. They dropped everybody into coverage."
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