WOOSTER, Ohio — The first road trip of North Coast Athletic Conference play turned into a statement win for Wabash College. Behind explosive plays on offense and a suffocating defensive effort, the Little Giants defeated the College of Wooster 34-7 Saturday afternoon at John P. Papp Stadium.
Wabash (3-0, 1-0 NCAC) set the tone early. After Brock Robertson intercepted Wooster quarterback Michael Boyle on the Scots' opening drive, the Little Giants needed just five plays to strike. Brand Campbell rolled to his right and found Luke Adams, who skied over the Scots' defender and hauled in the pass and raced to the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown, giving Wabash a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
The Little Giants' defense continued to swarm in the first half. Will Freeman recorded a sack to stop one Wooster possession, and the Little Giants twice turned the Scots away on downs deep in their own territory.
Midway through the second quarter, Wabash's defense created another scoring chance. Samuel Ringer sacked Boyle at the 4-yard line and jarred the ball loose. Camden Singer fell on the fumble to give the Little Giants a first-and-goal. On the very next snap, Cole Dickerson powered through for a four-yard touchdown run to double the lead to 14-0.
Wabash nearly extended its advantage before halftime, driving to the Wooster 31, but a 48-yard field goal attempt by Brody Rucker drifted wide. The Little Giants still carried a two-touchdown lead into the break, thanks to a defense that held Wooster to just 10 rushing yards on 22 attempts for the game.
The knockout blow came quickly in the third quarter. On Wabash's first drive after halftime, Xavier Tyler took a handoff up the middle on a third-and-short, cut into space, and raced 70 yards untouched for the longest play from scrimmage of the Little Giants' season. Just 62 seconds into the half, the lead ballooned to 21-0.
Wooster answered with its best drive of the day. Boyle connected with Cam Crago for a 44-yard strike down the seam, then hit him again on an 11-yard touchdown pass to cut the margin to 21-7 with 10:07 left in the third.
The Little Giants wasted little time regaining control. Campbell went right back to Dickerson, first on a 35-yard completion to the Wooster 17, then on a perfectly placed 17-yard touchdown pass to restore the three-score cushion at 28-7.
Rucker added insurance with two field goals — a 19-yarder late in the third and a 34-yarder early in the fourth — to cap the scoring.
Campbell finished the afternoon 11-of-17 passing for 224 yards and two touchdowns, spreading completions among seven receivers. Dickerson accounted for 117 total yards, including 83 receiving and two touchdowns, while Adams added three receptions for 94 yards. Tyler led all rushers with 127 yards on 14 carries, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt.
Defensively, Freeman, Dakota Johnson, and Jerry McBee combined for three sacks. William Harris led the Little Giants with seven tackles. Ringer added four tackles, 1-1/2 tackles for losses of seven yards, a sack, and a forced fumble, while Robertson's interception helped the Little Giants score first. Wabash finished with three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and forced two turnovers.
The Little Giants converted 8 of 15 third downs, averaged 6.5 yards per play, and controlled the ball for nearly 32 minutes.
Wabash returns home to Little Giant Stadium next Saturday to face Denison University in a 2 p.m. Homecoming contest.
Key Game Notes
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Wabash improves to 3-0 for the first time since 2021.
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The Little Giants outgained Wooster 473-202, including a 227-10 advantage on the ground.
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Xavier Tyler's 70-yard touchdown run is the longest play from scrimmage by Wabash this season.
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Luke Adams' 53-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter was his team-best third scoring reception of the year.
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Cole Dickerson scored both rushing and receiving touchdowns for the first time in his career.
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The Wabash defense has held opponents under 100 rushing yards in all three games this season.