CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — Cole Dickerson rushed for 178 yards and a career-high four touchdowns as Wabash College celebrated Homecoming with a 34-7 North Coast Athletic Conference victory over The College of Wooster on Saturday at Little Giant Stadium.
Wabash (4-0, 3-0 NCAC) rushed for a season-high 296 yards and controlled the football for 40 minutes, 33 seconds while limiting Wooster (1-3, 1-2 NCAC) to 116 yards of total offense and five first downs. The Little Giants scored the final 24 points after Wooster cut an early Wabash lead to 10-7.
The victory was Wabash's fifth consecutive win over Wooster and improved the Little Giants to 26-4 all-time against the Fighting Scots. Wabash entered Saturday's game with a 25-4 record in the series, including a 12-2 mark at home.
Wabash needed six plays to score on its opening possession. Brand Campbell connected with Luke Adams for 40 yards before Dickerson capped the 64-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. Tyler Church added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Little Giants' defense forced Wooster backward on its ensuing possession, with William Harris recording a 6-yard sack. Wabash eventually converted favorable field position into a 36-yard Church field goal to extend the lead to 10-0.
Wooster's only touchdown came after an interception was returned 89 yards to the Wabash 1-yard line. The Fighting Scots scored on a 1-yard run on the next play to trim the Little Giants' advantage to 10-7.
Wabash responded by taking control of the game on both sides of the football.
Church connected on a 26-yard field goal early in the second quarter for a 13-7 advantage. Dickerson provided the big play on Wabash's next scoring possession, breaking loose for 49 yards before finishing the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run to send the Little Giants into halftime with a 20-7 lead.
The Wabash defense held Wooster to one first down in the second quarter and stopped the Fighting Scots on all four third-down attempts. Tez Humphrey, Wade McAllister and Dakota Johnson each recorded sacks in the period.
The Little Giants turned two Wooster fumbles into second-half momentum. Samuel Poriah recovered the first at the Wooster 46-yard line early in the third quarter. Dickerson immediately raced 27 yards and eventually scored from 2 yards out for his third touchdown and a 27-7 Wabash lead.
Ayden Salpietra forced another Wooster fumble later in the quarter, with Johnson recovering at the Wabash 21. The Little Giants responded with a 10-play, 79-yard touchdown drive. Campbell connected with Nick Witte for 45 yards before Dickerson converted a fourth-and-2 opportunity at the Wooster 11. Dickerson finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 34-7.
The four-touchdown performance established career highs for Dickerson in rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. He also carried a career-high 27 times while reaching 20 career rushing touchdowns and 22 total touchdowns.
Wabash continued to dominate possession in the fourth quarter, holding the football for 12:37 while keeping Wooster without a first down. Javon Garry carried 20 times for a season-high 79 yards as the Little Giants continued to grind down the Fighting Scots' defense.
The Wabash defense finished with five sacks, one more than its season average entering the game. Johnson recorded four tackles, a sack and his first fumble recovery of the season. He has recorded at least one sack in three consecutive games. Harris extended his sack streak to two games, while Aiden Beadles and Christian Lopez combined for a fourth-quarter sack.
Campbell completed 11 of 17 passes for 139 yards. Adams led the Wabash receivers with six catches for 79 yards, while Witte's 45-yard reception was the Little Giants' longest completion of the game.
Wabash finished with 26 first downs and converted six trips inside the Wooster red zone into points. The Little Giants' four rushing touchdowns and 296 rushing yards were both season highs.
Church made two field goals and all four extra-point attempts while also helping Wabash control field position with his punting.
The victory extended Wabash's winning streak against Wooster to five games. The Little Giants have won 22 of 26 conference meetings between the programs following Saturday's victory. The series dates to Wabash's 27-0 victory in Crawfordsville in 1944.
Wabash returns to the road Saturday, Oct. 3, traveling to Granville, Ohio, to face Denison University in NCAC action. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
