Crawfordsville, Ind. – Wabash College faces its toughest test to this point of the 2025 season Saturday when the Little Giants travel to Ohio to take on nationally-ranked John Carroll University in a key North Coast Athletic Conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 2:35 p.m. Eastern at Don Shula Stadium at Wasmer Field in University Heights, Ohio.
Game Information
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 4 – 2:35 p.m. ET
Location: Don Shula Stadium at Wasmer Field – University Heights, Ohio
Capacity: 5,418
Live Video: Rock Entertainment Sports Network
Live Stats: jcusports.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Opening Notes
Wabash enters Saturday's contest with a 4-0 record and a No. 25 national ranking in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll. The Little Giants have won seven straight at home and two straight on the road after a 36-0 Homecoming victory over Denison. The shutout marked the first on Homecoming since 2016 and improved Wabash's all-time record to 729-404-59, fifth-most wins among NCAA Division III programs.
The game marks only the second all-time meeting between Wabash and John Carroll and the first as NCAC opponents. The Little Giants defeated the Blue Streaks 7-6 on November 4, 1961, in Crawfordsville, scoring on a 23-yard pass from Jack McHenry to Tom Freeman before holding off a late John Carroll rally.
Last Week's Win
The Little Giants dominated all phases of the game in their Homecoming victory. Quarterback Brand Campbell accounted for three touchdowns, throwing for 207 yards and two scores while adding a one-yard rushing touchdown. Kannon Chase caught both scoring passes, and kicker Brody Rucker tied the school record with a 50-yard field goal.
Defensively, Wabash limited Denison to just 25 rushing yards and forced four turnovers. Safety Gage Gulley returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown, while linebacker Gavin Ruppert led the team with seven tackles and a sack. Campbell and Gulley were recognized as the NCAC Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Week, respectively.
Key Players
Campbell continues to pace the Wabash offense, completing 68 percent of his passes for 944 total yards and 10 touchdowns. He ranks eighth nationally in passing efficiency (194.6) and leads the NCAC in both efficiency and total offense.
Ruppert sits sixth on Wabash's all-time tackles list (285) and anchors a defense ranked 10th nationally in rushing defense (39.0 yards per game). Gulley has emerged as a playmaker with touchdowns on defense and special teams this season.
Scouting John Carroll
The No. 16-ranked Blue Streaks (3-1, 2-0 NCAC) enter Saturday's matchup riding a two-game shutout streak after defeating Oberlin 63-0 and Kenyon 52-0. Their only loss came at No. 3 Johns Hopkins (27-13).
John Carroll averages 44.0 points and 437.3 yards per game, led by graduate quarterback Nick Semptimphelter, who has completed 82.2 percent of his passes (83-of-101) for 1,040 yards, 11 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Wide receiver Tyren Montgomery leads the team with 31 catches for 483 yards, while tight end Kenneth Rawls has added five touchdown receptions.
Defensively, the Blue Streaks rank among the nation's best, allowing just 10.3 points and 178.5 total yards per game while holding opponents to 1.3 yards per carry. Linebacker Mason Rus leads the unit with 20 tackles and an interception.
Up Next
Wabash returns home next Saturday, October 11, to host Ohio Wesleyan University at 1 p.m. in Little Giant Stadium.
