DELAWARE, Ohio — Wabash College scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon, but a late comeback fell short as the Little Giants lost 35-28 to Ohio Wesleyan University in North Coast Athletic Conference football action at Selby Stadium.
Wabash (4-4, 3-4 NCAC) rallied from a 35-7 deficit with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, cutting the Battling Bishops' lead to seven points with 1:44 remaining. Ohio Wesleyan (5-3, 4-3 NCAC) recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the remaining time to secure the victory.
The loss overshadowed several individual milestones for the Little Giants. Junior running back Cole Dickerson scored his 24th career rushing touchdown and 12th of the season on a five-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The score moved Dickerson into a tie for ninth place on both the Wabash career and single-season rushing touchdown lists. His 24 career rushing touchdowns match the totals of Donovan Snyder, Randy Mellinger and Xavier Tyler. His 12 touchdowns this season equal the marks set by Mason Zurek in 2014 and Mellinger in 1977.
Senior quarterback Brand Campbell also climbed the Wabash career record lists. Campbell moved into seventh place in career passing yards with 5,103 and tied Dave Broecker '83 for seventh place with 45 career touchdown passes. Broecker previously ranked seventh on both lists.
Wabash finished with a season-high 337 passing yards and outgained Ohio Wesleyan 408-394 in total offense. The Little Giants recorded 24 first downs and converted nine of 17 third-down opportunities. Four interceptions, including two in the Ohio Wesleyan end zone, proved costly. The Battling Bishops converted the turnovers into 21 points.
The Little Giants opened the game with an eight-play, 47-yard touchdown drive after forcing Ohio Wesleyan to punt on its opening possession. Dickerson converted a pair of third downs on rushing attempts before quarterback Jackson Gilbert connected with Luke Adams for a 26-yard touchdown pass. Tyler Church added the extra point for a 7-0 Wabash lead with 9:35 remaining in the first quarter.
Ohio Wesleyan answered with a 14-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback C.J. Jackson to Jordan Ghant, tying the game at 7-7 with 3:23 left in the opening period.
Wabash responded by moving 57 yards on 10 plays, advancing to the Ohio Wesleyan 6-yard line early in the second quarter. The series ended with a 23-yard field goal attempt hitting the left upright, leaving the game tied.
The Little Giants' defense forced punts on the next two Ohio Wesleyan possessions, with Wabash taking over at the Battling Bishops' 40-yard line following the second stop. However, Gilbert was intercepted, and Ohio Wesleyan capitalized with a five-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Jackson connected with Kenny Thompson Jr. on a 36-yard touchdown pass to give the Battling Bishops a 14-7 lead with 6:17 left in the half.
Ohio Wesleyan added another touchdown late in the second quarter, completing a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a six-yard scoring pass from Jackson to Thompson with 41 seconds remaining. The Battling Bishops carried a 21-7 advantage into halftime.
Turnovers continued to hinder the Wabash offense in the third quarter. An interception on the Little Giants' opening possession gave Ohio Wesleyan the ball at the Wabash 37-yard line. The Battling Bishops converted the opportunity into an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Ghant, extending their lead to 28-7.
Campbell entered the game and directed the Little Giants into Ohio Wesleyan territory. He completed a 13-yard pass to Nick Witte and a 23-yard throw to Keith Jackson before an interception in the end zone ended the scoring opportunity.
Ohio Wesleyan answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive, capped by Dorian Hamilton's 31-yard scoring run, to push the lead to 35-7 with 5:13 remaining in the third quarter.
Wabash mounted another scoring threat on its next possession. A 19-yard completion to Keith Jackson and an 18-yard Campbell run helped advance the Little Giants to the Ohio Wesleyan 9-yard line. However, another end-zone interception ended the drive.
The Little Giants' defense forced a punt late in the third quarter, setting up the first of three unanswered Wabash touchdowns. Dickerson broke an 18-yard run on the final play of the period to advance the ball to the Ohio Wesleyan 38-yard line. He eventually capped the eight-play, 56-yard possession with his five-yard touchdown run. Church's extra point cut the deficit to 35-14 with 12:31 remaining.
The Wabash defense delivered another critical stop on Ohio Wesleyan's ensuing possession. Carac Johnson stopped a fourth-down rushing attempt at the Wabash 20-yard line, giving the Little Giants possession with 8:48 remaining.
Campbell quickly moved Wabash downfield, connecting with Witte on a 58-yard touchdown pass to finish an 80-yard drive in just four plays. Church converted the extra point to make the score 35-21 with 7:21 left.
The Little Giants' defense forced another punt, giving the offense possession at its own 24-yard line with 4:28 remaining.
Campbell directed an 11-play, 76-yard scoring drive, completing critical third- and fourth-down passes to keep the comeback alive. He connected with Adams for gains of 20 and 26 yards before scoring on a one-yard quarterback run with 1:44 remaining. Church's fourth extra point of the afternoon brought Wabash within seven points at 35-28.
Ohio Wesleyan recovered the ensuing onside kick and maintained possession for the remainder of the contest.
Adams led the Wabash receiving corps with seven catches for a season-high 120 yards and a touchdown. The scoring reception was his first of the season and the 10th of his career.
Keith Jackson established career highs with eight receptions for 104 yards. Witte finished with two receptions for 71 yards, including his 58-yard touchdown catch.
Campbell completed 12 of 26 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown while adding a rushing score. Gilbert completed 10 of 17 attempts for 119 yards and a touchdown. Dickerson finished with 69 rushing yards on 21 carries and added three receptions for 24 yards. His fourth-quarter touchdown extended his scoring streak to eight consecutive games.
Defensively, Carson Foxen led the Little Giants with a career-high 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Johnson and Gage Gulley added nine tackles apiece, while Will Freeman finished with seven. Messiah Belton and William Harris each recorded six tackles.
Ohio Wesleyan quarterback C.J. Jackson completed 23 of 36 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns. Thompson and Ghant each caught two touchdown passes. The Battling Bishops finished with 157 rushing yards and 237 passing yards.
Wabash held Ohio Wesleyan scoreless in the fourth quarter, limiting the Battling Bishops to two punts and a turnover on downs while producing three consecutive touchdown drives. The Little Giants finished with 71 rushing yards and 337 passing yards, compared to 157 rushing yards and 237 passing yards for Ohio Wesleyan.
The Little Giants return to Little Giant Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a 1 p.m. NCAC contest against Kenyon College.
