MEADVILLE, Pa. - Behind a smothering defense and impressive rushing offense, ninth-ranked Wabash topped the Gators 54-0 at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.

Defensively, Wabash limited the Gators to just 59 yards of total offense, while picking up six sacks and forcing three interceptions, while the Little Giant offense rolled up 529 yards and scored points on each of its six possessions in the first half.

The win moves the Little Giants to 2-0 on the season overall, and 1-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, while the Gators fall to 0-3/0-2.

The first possession of each team in the opening quarter set the stage for the game, as the Gators quickly went three-and-out and punted after receiving the opening kickoff, before the Little Giants countered with a quick three-play, 51-yard scoring drive that ended with a 34-yard Mason Zurek touchdown run to make it 7-0 just 2:30 into play.

Wabash added rushing touchdowns on its final two drives of the opening quarter, with a three-yard plunge from Zurek and an 18-yard burst from Shamir Johnston, to go in front 21-0 with 3:01 left in the first.

Though it was only on the field for just over four minutes of the second quarter, the stifling Wabash defense continued to wreak havoc, posting a pair of sacks and an interception while limiting Allegheny to just 10 plays over three drives.  The Little Giants' added two more rushing touchdowns and a pair of field goals over the second stanza to up the lead to 40-0 at intermission.

On their first drive of the second half, the Gator offense embarked on a promising drive, as quarterback Jon Nigro completed two passes to Lucas Morton for 32 yards, while Tyler Smith ran twice for seven yards before hauling in a seven-yard reception, to set up shop at the Wabash 30.  However, the Little Giants defense then buckled down, posting a sack for a seven-yard loss, before cutting the nine-play drive short with their second interception of the day. The turnover wound up not hurting the Gators, as the Allegheny duo of Miles Oladimeje and Nick Murgo stuffed a run on fourth-and-two to force a turnover on downs.

The Gators' final possession of the third quarter ended with a punt, but the Wabash return man fumbled the fair catch, and Allegheny's Matt Wetzel pounced on the loose ball near midfield.  An 11-yard run by quarterback Logan Lee, followed by a nine-yard pass to Jake Wilson, set up fourth-and-one at the Wabash 34, before Lee kept it himself and plowed ahead for two yards and the first down.  However, the Little Giants would force their third turnover of the day, as CJ McMann stepped in front of a pass at the 25-yardline and returned it 55 yards deep into Gator territory.  Wabash would then close out the day's scoring, with a Matt Gibson plunge from one-yard out with 8:02 left in regulation.

Nigro finished the day completing 10 of 18 passes for 80 yards, with Morton leading the Gators with four receptions for 53 yards.  Smith and Nick Matic each had three catches, and Wilson two.  Defensively, freshman Marcus Davenport led both sides with 10 tackles, including six solos, while Wetzel had eight and Murgo and Travis Thomas six apiece.  Senior Chris Bourne continued his strong season punting the football, averaging 37.0 yards on 10 kicks, including a long of 47 yards.

Zurek paced the Wabash offense, running for 124 yards and four tochdowns on 20 carries, while Johnson had 88 yards and 11 tries.  Connor Rice completed 11 of 16 passes for 178 yards, while Connor Ludwig topped the Little Giant defense with six tackles, including three for loss and two sacks.

The Gators will return to action on Sat. Sept. 26th, hosting Kenyon College on Homecoming Day at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.  Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.