DePauw retains the Bell in series-first double OT win over Wabash

With the traveling DePauw supporters roaring him on, Gus Baumgartner strolls in for the first of his two touchdown runs Saturday against Wabash during the 129th Monon Bell Game. Baumgartner finished with 97 yards rushing on 18 carries, helping the Tigers to retain the Bell in a thrilling 33-30 double-overtime win over the Little Giants.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

CRAWFORDSVILLE – For a series entering its 129th edition, the Monon Bell Game between DePauw and Wabash broke new ground Saturday afternoon at Little Giant Stadium.

The Tigers and Little Giants went to overtime for the first time in series history after finishing regulation tied 27-27, needing two extra sessions in total, and finished when Nathan McCahill hit Will Kaster for an 11-yard score for a 33-30 win.

Holding onto the Bell came with several perks for DePauw, which finished the regular season 10-0 for the first time, winning the NCAC outright, as well as winning the conference title for a third-straight season, and punched the Tigers’ ticket to the NCAA Division III Football Tournament with the conference’s automatic qualifier spot.

Wabash won the coin toss and deferred to the second half with DePauw taking the opening drive 75 yards in eight plays with McCahill hitting Robby Ballentine for an eight-yard score and a 7-0 lead 3:13 into the contest.

The hosts answered with a 75-yard drive of their own, capping an 11-play drive with a five-yard Cade Campbell run to tie the game at 7-7.

McCahill was intercepted on the next drive by Mike Holsclaw after the Tigers looked primed to retake the lead with the Little Giants cashing in on the first play of the second quarter, finishing a six-play, 60-yard drive with a one-yard Xavier Tyler score and a 14-7 lead.

The Tigers answered quickly, initially believing they had scored on a 47-yard pass from McCahill to Gabe Quigley until the latter was dinged for unsportsmanlike conduct before crossing the goal line.

Two plays later, McCahill would finish the drive with a 15-yard run to tie the game at 14-14.

Wabash quickly moved into DePauw territory on its next drive, picking up four first downs in six plays, before a personal foul for hands to the face turned third-and-11 into third-and-26.

Little Giant quarterback Liam Thompson picked up 17 yards on the next snap to set up a 39-yard Brody Rucker field goal and a 17-14 lead with 5:37 until halftime.

That was plenty of time for the Tigers to take a lead into halftime as the visitors covered 65 yards in 10 plays, finishing with a 17-yard Gus Baumgartner score to take a 21-17 lead into halftime, though not before Thompson nearly hit Owen Rossell for a score at the horn.

In a first for the game, both teams punted their opening possessions of the second half before the home side tacked on a 34-yard field goal after a Thompson touchdown was wiped out by a holding penalty.

The Tigers punted away again and by the time they got the ball back, Wabash had taken the lead.

Covering 86 yards in 11 yards, the Little Giants moved ahead after a one-yard Donovan Snyder score a minute into the final quarter to make it 27-21.

The visitors picked up first downs on four-straight plays on the next drive to move to the Wabash five-yard line before Baumgartner cashed in again, capping a seven-play, 63-yard drive.

Instead of taking the lead back, however, the game would be tied at 27-27 as Joseph Sullivan’s extra point was blocked by Steven Thomas.

Both defenses forced punts and the hosts were unable to make any headway on their final possession of regulation, sending the teams to overtime.

An already dramatic game kicked into an even higher gear as Wabash won the coin toss and elected to play defense to start overtime.

DePauw’s second snap hit off Kaster, who was crossing McCahill at the snap, with Jake Pasch recovering the fumble.

Thompson missed his target on third-and-one on the Little Giants’ offensive series but still looked set to win with Rucker attempting a 33-yard field goal, only for Ethan Lowry to block the kick and send the game into a second overtime.

Rucker was able to connect on a 41-yard field goal as the hosts started on offense but DePauw finished the game three plays later.

McCahill first hit Ballentine for four yards before hitting Quigley for 10 yards and a first down, setting up Kaster for redemption after being left alone in the middle of the field as the sophomore dove into the endzone to set off wild celebrations from the traveling Tiger faithful.

The Tigers finished with 435 yards of total offense on 66 plays as McCahill threw for 242 yards on 23-of-30 attempts with an interception and two touchdowns. Quigley led the receiving corps with six catches for 92 yards with Ballentine adding seven receptions for 68 yards and a score.

Baumgartner finished with 18 carries for 97 yards and two scores to lead the running attack, which gained 193 yards in total. Luke Marsh led the defense with 11 tackles.

Wabash did make significant inroads in the running game, gashing the nation’s eighth-best rush defense for 313 yards, led by Thompson, who finished with 135 yards on 18 carries. Thompson finished with 114 yards on 11-of-21 passing attempts, becoming the NCAC leader in career passing yards in the loss.

DePauw will travel to Alma College in the first round of the NCAA Division III Football Tournament with kickoff slated Saturday at noon.

Scoring

1st Quarter

D — Ballentine 8-yard pass from McCahill (Sullivan kick) 11:43 0-7

W — Campbell 5-yard run (Rucker kick) 6:44 7-7

2nd Quarter

W — Tyler 1-yard run (Rucker kick) 14:57 14-7

D — McCahill 15-yard run (Berry kick) 11:33 14-14

W — Rucker 39-yard field goal 5:34 17-15

D — Baumgartner 17-yard run (Sullivan kick) 0:28 17-21

3rd Quarter

W — Rucker 34-yard field goal 8:04 20-21

4th Quarter

W — Snyder 1-yard run (Rucker kick) 13:41 27-21

D — Baumgartner 1-yard run (XP blocked) 10:16 27-27

2nd Overtime

W — Rucker 41-yard field goal

D — Kaster 11-yard pass from McCahill

Statistics

Individual Statistics

Rushing

DePauw — 26-204, 3 TD — Baumgartner 18-97, 2 TD; Whitehead 12-50; McCahill 3-45, TD; Quigley 2-8; Team 1-(-7)

Wabash — 50-310, 3 TD — Thompson 17-135; Tyler 11-76, TD; Campbell 11-69, TD; Snyder 10-30, TD

Passing

DePauw — McCahill 23-30-242, 2 TD, INT

Wabash — Thompson 11-21-114

Receiving

DePauw — Ballantine 7-68, TD; Quigley 6-92; Whitehead 5-30; Smith 3-40, Kaster 1-11, TD: Baumgartner 1-1

Wabash — Sullivan 4-41; Allen, Jr. 3-30; Garrity 2-29; Stoller 1-10; Snyder 1-4