Box Score
Wabash 41, Ohio Wesleyan 24

Sophomore running back Jackson Gifford (Ross/Hamilton Ross) scored on a 2-yard run as Ohio Wesleyan wiped out an early 6-0 deficit, but Wabash scored 3 second-quarter touchdowns and went on to a North Coast Athletic Conference win on Saturday in Crawfordsville, Ind.

The loss was Ohio Wesleyan's first in conference play this season and leaves the Bishops tied with DePauw and Wabash at 3-1, with Wittenberg atop the league at 4-1.

Midway through the first quarter, Wabash's Avery Epstein intercepted a pass from junior quarterback Kaden Buza (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) and returned it to the Bishop 37, setting up a 4-play drive that culminated in Donovan Snyder's 13-yard run.  Brigham Anderson's point-after try was off, and the Little Giants led, 6-0.

Ohio Wesleyan answered when a Blake White punt traveled 6 yards and gave the Bishops the ball on the Wabash 25.  After Buza found freshman wide receiver Josh Hurst (Port Clinton) for 12 yards and Gifford picked up 12 more, it was Gifford going over from 2 yards out for the score.  Junior kicker Gabriel Chlebowski (Toledo/St. John's) made the conversion and Ohio Wesleyan led, 7-6, less than a minute into the second quarter.

Wabash answered with a 75-yard drive that included a 49-yard connection from Liam Thompson to Penn Stoller, and ended with Thompson finding Derek Allen Jr. for 24 yards and a score.  The Little Giants assembled another 75-yard drive on their next possession, with Cade Campbell scoring on a 7-yard run for a 20-7 lead.

Chlebowski connected on a 33-yard field goal to bring the Bishops within 20-10, but another 75-yard Wabash drive culminated in Thompson's 4-yard scoring run with :42 left in the half, and the hosts took a 27-10 lead into the locker room.  Wabash added a 75-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Heisman Skeens and a 77-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Stoller during the third quarter.

Buza rallied the Bishops in the fourth quarter, throwing TD passes of 8 yards to freshman wide receiver J.T. James (Hurricane, W.Va.) and 20 yards to Hurst.

Buza completed 25 of 46 passes for 301 yards and 2 scores.  Gifford led the Bishops with 88 yards on 23 rushes.  Junior wide receiver Jakii Alston (Pickerington/Central) caught 12 passes for 149 yards.  Sophomore defensive end Tyler Yanka (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) and senior defensive end Riley Louck (North Lewisburg/Triad) shared the team lead with 7 tackles apiece.

Box Score