CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. – Kenyon College senior quarterback Thomas Merkle set Saturday the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) record for completions in a career. Unfortunately for Merkle and the Lords football team, it came during a 31-12 loss to the Wabash College Little Giants.

Merkle entered this season with 850 completions. After going 20-for-37 on Saturday, his 2019 season total hit 164, giving him 1,014 career completions. That mark topped the previous NCAC record of 1,004 completions set by Ohio Wesleyan University's Mason Espinosa, who played from 2010 through 2013.

Merkle's 20 completions Saturday covered 167 yards and included two touchdowns, which were both scored in the fourth quarter. At the 11:56 mark of the quarter, Merkle connected with freshman Jack Provenza on a 23-yard scoring play that capped off a six-play, 55-yard drive. The possession was set up by a Jack Sherritt fumble recovery on the Kenyon 45-yard line.

On their next possession, the Lords missed a 29-yard field goal. They did, however, make up for it on their final possession, one that covered nine plays and 75 yards. Merkle was 6-for-9 for 63 yards on the drive, which ended with him throwing a 21-yard touchdown to James Scotto with just 37 seconds left in the game.

In addition to the air game, the Lords had 67 yards rushing for a total offensive output of 234 yards. Freshman Finn Murray led the ground game with 66 yards on 10 carries. The Kenyon receiving corps was topped by freshman Andrew Schnarre, who had four catches for 58 yards. Junior Justin Bosch added six receptions for 36 yards.

On the other side of the field, Wabash dominated possession time and racked up 431 yards of offense. That included 187 yards on the ground and 244 yards in the air. Little Giants quarterback Liam Thompson was 16-of-21. He accounted for all 244 yards and threw a trio of touchdowns. Two of those touchdown tosses went to Devon Anderson, who finished the game with three catches for 74 yards.

The Wabash rushing attack was led by Isaac Avant, who piled up 138 yards on 28 carries.

The Little Giants scored all 31 points in the first half. They put up 17 in the first quarter and then 14 more in the second quarter.

After a 25-yard field goal on its first possession, Wabash followed with a 17-yard Cooper Sullivan touchdown run and the first of the two Thompson-to-Anderson touchdowns, which covered 56 yards.

In the second quarter, Thompson hit Jackson Smith-Clayborne on a nine-yard scoring play and then capped off his day with his second scoring strike to Anderson, this one from 13 yards out.   

Defensively, junior linebacker Michael Picone had a huge game for Kenyon. He racked up a game-high 17 tackles, including one sack. He forced and recovered a fumble and he also blocked a punt.

The Lords are now 3-5 overall and 2-5 in NCAC play. They'll return home to face Wittenberg University next Saturday at noon.

With the win, Wabash improved to 6-2 overall and 6-1 in conference competition.