Wabash starts the North Coast Athletic Conference portion of its 2024 football schedule Saturday. The Little Giants face Ohio Wesleyan University at 2 p.m. at Little Giant Stadium as part of the College’s annual Homecoming celebration.
BY THE NUMBERS
Today’s game is part of Wabash College’s annual Homecoming celebration. Homecoming began on November 12, 1920, with a football game against Western Normal (now Western Michigan). Wabash is 67-27-8 all-time in Homecoming contests, including a 2-0-1 record versus Oberlin in Homecoming games. Wabash owns a 4-1-1 record against Ohio Wesleyan in Homecoming contests dating back to a 20-20 tie in 1953. The two teams last played in a Wabash Homecoming contest in 2004, a 17-14 victory for the Little Giants.
Wabash holds a 29-15-2 overall record against OWU with a 15-71-1 advantage in games played in Crawfordsville. The Little Giants won 41-24 when OWU visited in 2022 and claimed a 31-13 win last year in Delaware, Ohio. Wabash has won 17 of the previous 19 meetings between the two teams.
LAST WEEK
The Wabash defense turned in its first shutout since 2019 and limited the St. Norbert Green Knights to 88 passing yards in a 31-0 victory to open the season. The Little Giants produced 14 points off three turnovers in the victory, including a record-setting 100-yard fumble return for a touchdown by junior linebacker Samuel Ringer on the first half’s final play.
Xavier Tyler ran for a team-best 70 yards and two scores. Blake White connected with Connor Garrity for an 11-yard touchdown pass. White finished 20-of-27 with one TD, completing 12 consecutive passes at one point in his first career start.
Brock Robertson paced the defense with 10 tackles. Gavin Ruppert picked off a pass, and Jordan Cree blocked a punt, leading to a score. But it was the stop by the Little Giant defense on the goal line as St. Norbert appeared ready to score to end the half that brought the Wabash fans to their feet. Cooper Jarvis forced a fumble, and Ringer scooped up the loose ball and raced 100 yards to break the Wabash and NCAC records for the longest fumble return. Ringer also made three tackles on defense to earn NCAC Football Defensive Player of the Week honors.
SCOUTING OHIO WESLEYAN
Ohio Wesleyan University defeated Otterbein 26-7 in the Bishops’ season lid lifter last Saturday. Head coach Tom Watts, now in his 13th season at the helm of the OWU program, saw his defense record four interceptions and limit Otterbein to 64 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
Senior linebacker Bryar Ramey led the Bishops’ defense with 11 tackles. Fellow senior Terrell Burton II recorded seven tackles and shared a sack for a seven-yard loss with teammate Jack Novak, one of two sacks for OWU on the day. Chris Burns, Grant Johnson, Jake Smothers, and Sammy Stoner each had interceptions. Stoner’s pick led to an Ohio Wesleyan touchdown two plays later on offense.
Freshman Nathan Severs led the ground attack for the Battling Bishops’ offense. The first-year player rushed for 69 yards and one score on 18 carries. Junior Devon Haley added a second rushing touchdown and ran for 55 yards on nine attempts. Quarterback Kaden Buza returns for a fifth year at OWU and threw for 173 yards and one touchdown, completing 20 of 42 attempts with two interceptions. Buza started in last year’s 31-13 loss to Wabash and completed 11 of 26 pass attempts for 80 yards with three interceptions.
Junior wideout Josh Hurst caught eight passes for 78 yards and one touchdown in the win against Otterbein. Severs hauled in six catches for 43 yards.
NOTES
All tailgating and RV spots have been sold for Saturday’s game. Tickets are still available at https://wabashtickets.com.
Jennison Street will be closed for Homecoming from Will Hays Jr. Drive to Sycamore Drive. Fans who purchased tailgating spots in Mud Hollow can still access the lot from Jennison Street. Sycamore Hills residents should plan to enter and exit the area by taking Jennison Street west to Russell Avenue.
Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church is celebrating its bicentennial this weekend. Fans who might typically park in the church lot and walk to Little Giant Stadium are asked to find alternate parking to respect the activities planned at the church on Saturday.
