Led by a dominant defensive effort that produced the first shutout in program history since 2019, Wabash opened the 2024 NCAA Division III football season with a 31-0 home victory over St. Norbert College at Little Giant Stadium on Saturday.
The Little Giants (1-0) held the Saint Norbert (0-1) air attack to 88 passing yards. The shutout was the first by a Wabash team since a 24-0 win against Hiram College on Nov. 9, 2019, at the former Hollett Little Giant Stadium.
The Wabash “D” not only limited the visiting Green Knights to 88 passing yards and 232 total yards of offense, it also put points on the scoreboard with a record-breaking play. On the closing drive of the first half, with St. Norbert poised to score with the football on the one-yard line, Cooper Jarvis knocked the ball from the Green Knight’s quarterback. Samuel Ringer scooped up the loose football and scampered 100 yards in the opposite direction for a touchdown to give Wabash a 24-0 lead at halftime.
Ringer’s fumble return for a touchdown broke the Wabash record for the longest fumble return of 93 yards set by BJ Hammer in 2000. The play also broke the 75-yard fumble return record of Ethan Buresh set in the NCAA playoffs against Thomas More, the longest fumble return for a touchdown in Little Giant football history.
The Little Giants won the turnover battle in Saturday’s game, forcing two turnovers while avoiding any giveaways, with Wabash turning those takeaways into 14 points. Wabash converted on 46.7 percent of third-down attempts on the day. The Little Giants also went 1-for-1 on fourth down.
While the Wabash defense kept St. Norbert off the scoreboard, the Little Giants’ offense scored three touchdowns and one field goal. Xavier Tyler capped a seven-play, 61-yard drive with a one-yard scoring run in the first quarter to put Wabash up 7-0. Connor Garrity added an 11-yard touchdown reception on a pass from quarterback Blake White in the second period to push the lead to 14-0. Brody Rucker added a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter, just ahead of Ringer’s fumble return to complete the first-half scoring.
Tyler produced the only score of the second half on a two-yard run to open the fourth quarter for a 31-0 final. Tyler totaled 70 yards to lead the Little Giants’ ground attack and added two touchdowns in the game. Javon Garry also tacked on 32 yards on the ground, picking up 6.4 yards per carry.
White finished with 175 yards passing on a 20-for-27 effort in his first career start. Garrity hauled in four catches for 57 yards and one score. Connor Thompson hauled in nine catches for 41 yards. TJ Alexander made five receptions for 44 yards. White connected with five different receivers in the victory.
Brock Robertson recorded ten tackles to pace Wabash defensively. Gavin Ruppert, Will Olive, Josh McGuire, and Jarvis each added five tackles. Ruppert added an interception in the third quarter.
Wabash opens North Coast Athletic Conference play next Saturday with Homecoming contest at 2 p.m. at Little Giant Stadium.
