CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind.  — The Wabash College football team bounced back from its first loss of the season with an impressive 44–27 win over Ohio Wesleyan University in North Coast Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Little Giant Stadium.

Senior quarterback Brand Campbell led a balanced Wabash offense that racked up a season-high 543 total yards, throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns while adding 64 rushing yards and a score. The Little Giants (5–1, 3–1 NCAC) controlled possession for nearly 40 minutes and built a double-digit lead in the second quarter that they would never relinquish.

Senior running back Xavier Tyler posted a milestone afternoon, rushing for 90 yards on 24 carries and catching two passes for 75 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. The performance moved Tyler into 12th place on the Wabash career rushing list with 2,232 yards, passing Ike James '20.

Campbell opened the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, capping an eight-play drive set up by Tanner Crouch's interception. Ohio Wesleyan (1–4, 0–3 NCAC) answered with a 79-yard strike from Chanden Lee to Kenny Thompson to tie the game, but the Little Giants took control with a 20-point second quarter.

Campbell connected with TJ Alexander for an eight-yard touchdown early in the second period, and Brody Rucker added field goals from 26 and 43 yards as Wabash built a 27–14 halftime advantage. Tyler's 47-yard touchdown reception highlighted a 20-point surge before the break.
Sophomore Cole Dickerson provided the ground punch with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, including scoring runs of 22 and nine yards. Rucker finished the day with three field goals and converted all five extra points.

Defensively, the Little Giants limited Ohio Wesleyan to just 50 rushing yards and forced two interceptions. Senior linebacker Gavin Ruppert made five tackles to move into fifth place on the Wabash career tackles list with 301, surpassing CJ Gum '12. William Harris and Crouch each recorded an interception, while Brody Frey tallied the team's lone sack.

Wabash finished with 32 first downs to Ohio Wesleyan's 16 and outgained the Battling Bishops 543–408 overall. The Little Giants held the ball for nearly 40 minutes, including more than 11 minutes in the fourth quarter to close out the win.

Wabash continues conference play next Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.