Big Ten title game features former standouts Jacob Wahlberg, Noah Stewart

By Craig Beilfuss
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON–Two former local high school athletes will be in the thick of things on Saturday when the second-ranked Michigan Wolverines and Purdue Boilermakers meet for the Big Ten Football Championship.

Saturday’s game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and two former local high school athletes will be right in the thick of things.

Purdue junior linebacker Jacob Wahlberg plays a key role on the Boilermaker defense from his linebacker position. Michigan offensive lineman Noah Stewart will be on the sidelines for the Wolverines.

Wahlberg (6-4 235) is a former standout at Mona Shores. He has played a vital role in the Boilermakers’ rotation at linebacker.

In last week’s Big Ten West clinching 30-16 win over Indiana, Wahlberg finished the game with eight tackles (five solo and three assisted). On the season, Wahlberg has 32 tackles, one forced fumble and one interception.

Now Wahlberg will step into the biggest game of his life in a nationally televised game on FOX. 

“I would say this is, by far, the biggest game I have ever played in,” said Wahlberg, from West Lafayette on Wednesday evening. “The level and magnitude of this game on Saturday is crazy and I’m extremely excited to get a chance to play in it.”

The Boilermakers needed help to get into the title game. They needed Nebraska to upset Iowa on Friday and the Cornhuskers came through with a 24-17 road win.

“We were all watching pretty closely last Friday, hoping Nebraska could beat Iowa,” Wahlberg said. “However, we needed to stay focused on our game against Indiana on Saturday. It was a big game for us and we had a lot riding on that game. It was a fun night.”

Now Wahlberg and Purdue have their sights set on Michigan in an anything but normal week. Wahlberg begins the day with weightlifting in the morning, then approximately three hours of classroom studies, followed by a variety of team meetings and practice. It’s a full schedule from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. And, he has more family and former coaches attending the game on Saturday evening.

“We are playing a really good opponent,” Wahlberg said the Wolverines. “For me, this a very humbling experience. We just have to stick to what we know. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be playing on Saturday and I know as a team we’re looking forward to it. It’s basically a one-game season. Our total focus is on Michigan right now. Bowl games are far into the future right now.”

Wahlberg’s parents and other family members will be in attendance along Mona Shores head coach Matt Koziak and assistant Aaron James.

Wahlberg won’t have much time for visiting as he will have practice, team meetings and team meals on Friday evening and throughout the day Saturday.

“It’s cool to have the opportunity to have folks from back home come down here for the game on Saturday,” said Wahlberg. “They have been so supportive.”

On the other side of the ball is Stewart, from North Muskegon.

While Stewart has only appeared in one game this season, he is an important part of each Michigan practice as a member of the offensive scout team.

Throughout the week he is on the offensive scout team.

Stewart (6-7 283) was elated when the news came out this week that he was going to be included on the travel squad.

“Being able to participate, dress up and get on the plane Friday afternoon is a big stepping stone for me,” said Stewart on Thursday evening.

Stewart was still beaming about Michigan’s dominating 45-23 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes in a game in which the Wolverines (12-0) clinched the East Division.

“That was the result of 11 months of hard work,” said Stewart. “We preached that throughout the whole year. Not only did we win, but we won decisively.”

According to Stewart, not much will change from last week’s win over Ohio State to this week’s game against Purdue.

“We are locked in on Purdue,” said Stewart. “We won’t change our mentality for this game.We’re going to be the same old Michigan and play Michigan football. The standard was set back in September against Colorado State, which led up to Ohio State and now we just need to maintain our standard against Purdue. It’s week 13 for us and we have had the same schedule throughout the week.”

Like Wahlberg, Stewart will have family heading to the game. He’ll have a one-hour block in between team meetings and curfew on Friday evening when he can visit.

Michigan comes into the game with a record of 12-0, 9-0 and is looking for its second consecutive Big Ten Championship title and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Purdue’s (8-4, 6-3) last Big Ten title came back in 2000 which they split with Northwestern and Michigan. That was prior to the Big Ten splitting into divisions. The Boilermakers last outright Big Ten title came back in 1929.

The Big Ten West has never won the Big Ten title since the 2011 when the division format went into effect and Purdue will come in as 17-point underdog.