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On the last catch of his career, on the last play of the
game, senior receiver Kurt Casper brought the Monon Bell back to
Wabash.
In dramatic fashion, the Little Giants fired the same play
they had worked on time and again in practice — a designed
tipped pass from Ryan Short — fell into Casper's waiting arms
to give Wabash a 27-21 victory in the 108th Monon Bell
Classic.
Officially it was a 52-yard completion from Jake Knott, but
the only number that mattered was 300 — the weight of the
Bell as it returned to Wabash.
Wabash led 14-7 at halftime after TD passes from Knott to
Nick Dawson and Short. DePauw drew even in the third quarter before
the Little Giants regained the lead on a 6-yard completion to
Short. The reception was the 13th touchdown catch of the season for
Short, tying the Wabash and conference single season mark he set
last year.
DePauw answered with 14 seconds left in the game, tying the
contest at 21-21 to set up the heroics.
Eddie Garza returned the Tigers' kick to the Wabash 39-yard
line. Knott hit Casper for a short gain to the 48 with three
seconds showing on the clock.
Knott rolled right on the final play of the game, fired the
final pass toward the end zone, and awaited the outcome along with
7,300 fans and two anxious teams.
The ball was tipped by Short to Casper, who made the
game-winning grab and was immediately mobbed by his
teammates.
The win ended a five-year drought in Bell games for Wabash.
The Little Giants trail in the overall series by just one game,
50-49-9.