The Observer

Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Shane Lu Wes Chamblee (right) caught the game winning pass with 48 seconds remaining.

Down by four, sacked on third down, and with just over a minute - it seemed - left to go in a season that was crumbling around him, Wabash quarterback Matt Hudson connected with wide receiver Wes Chamblee for 21 yards on fourth-and-15, breathing life into the ashes that were the Little Giants' playoff hopes.

Hudson's 52-yard touchdown pass to Chamblee on the very next play extinguished Case's expectation of moving onto the second round of the NCAA Div. III playoffs.

"It sure was a swing," said Case head coach Greg Debeljak. "I was kind of at a loss for words when I was talking to my kids."

If you were standing on the Case sideline, all was right with the world when the game clock read 1:52. Debeljak patted Dan Whalen on the head as the quarterback strode off the field. Whalen had convinced Debeljak to go for it on fourth-and-goal with Case trailing 13-10, instead of kicking the field goal. The gutsy call paid off. Whalen dove into the end zone for a touchdown.

On their previous possession, Case marched 64 yards in nine plays. Whalen ran in for the score from eight yards out.

After allowing a touchdown with 8:58 remaining in the game, the Spartans' defense clamped down. Brian Calderone, playing on a torn ACL, single handedly stopped Hudson and company.

The Spartans were usually defending a short field. Wabash's average field position was their 40-yard line. Case's average field position was their own 27.

Before losing their regular season finale to DePauw, Wabash was ranked as high as third in some national polls. They slipped to 15th and were the sixth seed in the north region. Case was the third seed.

The Spartans jumped out to an early lead. Kicker Sam Coffey booted through a 31-yard field goal with 10:35 left in the first quarter to put Case ahead, 3-0.

Wabash threatened in the early going, but Zach Homyk's block of a 27-yard field goal attempt and a fourth-down goal line stand kept the Little Giants off the scoreboard in the first half.

For most of the game, Case's offense looked listless. They were jumpy before the ball was snapped, penalized four times for false starts. After their first drive ended with a field goal, their next eight drives ended with either a punt or a turnover. Wabash's front-four dominated the line of scrimmage, hurrying Whalen and forcing several incompletions.

"Their d-line is unlike anything we've seen," said Whalen, who was sacked four times.

This is the second-straight year Wabash has eliminated Case from the postseason. Last year, they beat Case 38-23 after jumping out to a 21-0 lead.

"It was the same great Case team, but this time we were coming from behind," said Wabash running back Evan Sobecki.

Wabash will now turn their attention to Wheaton (Ill.), who they'll be facing at home next weekend. But the Little Giants will be reliving today's rollercoaster upset for at least a little while longer.

"This is one I'm always going to remember," said Hudson.

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