CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — Cole Dickerson rushed for a career-high 206 yards and two touchdowns, while the Wabash defense limited Wittenberg to 74 total yards in a 31-0 North Coast Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Little Giant Stadium.
Wabash (2-0, 1-0 NCAC) rushed for a season-high 252 yards and scored in every quarter to win its conference opener. The Little Giants held Wittenberg (0-2, 0-1 NCAC) to minus-40 rushing yards, recorded a season-high five sacks and did not allow the Tigers a first down in the fourth quarter. The shutout was Wabash's first since a 36-0 victory over Denison on Sept. 27, 2025.
Dickerson carried 20 times for 206 yards and two scores, surpassing his previous career high and reaching 1,000 career rushing yards. He also caught four passes for 32 yards. Dickerson has rushed for at least two touchdowns in each of Wabash's first two games this season.
Quarterback Brand Campbell completed 8 of 15 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown and added a 20-yard rushing score. His touchdown pass moved him into sole possession of eighth place on the Wabash career list with 41.
Wabash took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter on a six-play, 63-yard drive. Campbell connected with Luke Adams for 33 yards before Dickerson capped the possession with a 4-yard touchdown run with 4:39 remaining.
The Little Giants' defense repeatedly pushed Wittenberg backward in the opening half. William Harris recorded tackles for loss on consecutive plays during one first-quarter series before Samuel Poriah added a third-down sack.
Wabash doubled its lead late in the second quarter after Dakota Johnson stopped a Wittenberg fourth-down attempt with a sack at the Little Giants' 27-yard line. Two plays later, Dickerson broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run to give Wabash a 14-0 advantage with 2:09 left in the half.
Poriah also produced a 24-yard sack earlier in the second quarter as Wabash limited Wittenberg to one first down and minus-31 rushing yards in the period.
Xavier Brooks opened the second half with a 50-yard kickoff return to set up another Wabash touchdown. Facing third-and-20, Campbell found Nick Witte for a 25-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-0. It was Witte's first touchdown reception of the season.
Camden Singer helped keep Wittenberg off the scoreboard with two third-quarter sacks, including a 12-yard loss on third-and-16. Singer finished with five tackles and established a career high with two sacks.
Wabash put the game away on its first possession of the fourth quarter. After Dickerson helped move the Little Giants into Wittenberg territory late in the third period, Javon Garry carried twice before Campbell raced 20 yards for a touchdown and a 28-0 advantage with 14:02 remaining.
The defense stopped Wittenberg on downs on its next possession, and Wabash responded with a 10-play drive that consumed 5:29. Tyler Church finished the possession with a 34-yard field goal to produce the final margin with 6:49 remaining. Andre Fancher recorded his first reception of the season on the drive, an 8-yard completion from Jackson Gilbert for a first down.
Wabash controlled the football for 11:01 of the fourth quarter and did not allow Wittenberg to record a first down in the period. Messiah Belton added a tackle for loss on third down before Tanner Brooks converted two third-and-1 plays on the Little Giants' final possession to help run out the clock.
Poriah finished with three tackles and a career-high two sacks. Johnson recorded a sack for the second consecutive game, while Wabash's defense finished with five sacks overall.
Wabash travels to Oberlin, Ohio, to face Oberlin College on Saturday, Sept. 19, at noon.
