DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University football team (3-3, 2-3 NCAC) hosted Wittenberg (0-6, 0-5 NCAC) on Saturday at Selby Stadium for the 100th meeting between the two schools, dating back to 1894. The Battling Bishops run game was on full display with 311 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The Red and Black added one score through the air and held the Tigers to just two field goals en route to a 21-6 win – OWU's first over Wittenberg since the 2022 season.
Following an opening drive punt by the Bishops, the Ohio Wesleyan defense was the first to step up, forcing a turnover on downs on their own 31 yard line on Wittenberg's first drive. From there,
Mysaun Sanders and
Giovanni Rufus pushed the OWU offense down the field with three rushes each, accompanied by 13- and 14-yard completions by
C.J. Jackson to
Jordan Ghant and
Evan Thompson. Rufus finished off the eight-play 69-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
The Red and Black kept their 7-0 advantage until 5:44 in the second quarter when Wittenberg was successful on a 21-yard field goal. The score remained 7-3 until the half.
Wittenberg tallied another field goal at 5:39 in the third quarter to make it a one-point game at 7-6. From then on out, the Bishop defense shut the Tigers down, forcing two punts and a turnover on downs in their remaining three drives.
Ohio Wesleyan's offense, however, still had two scores left in them, both coming in the fourth quarter. At 7:07, Thompson snagged a 12-yard pass from Jackson to cap off a seven-play 40-yard drive with a touchdown, extending the Bishops' lead to 14-6. Finally, with 2:39 remaining, Rufus scored his second touchdown of the day with another five-yard run, finishing a four-play 32-yard drive and bringing the final score to 21-6.
OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Red and Black recorded 392 yards of total offense with the vast majority coming on the ground, finishing with 311 rushing yards and 81 passing yards.
C.J. Jackson returned to the lineup at quarterback and went 8-for-15 with one touchdown.
Giovanni Rufus was the leading rusher with 23 attempts for a career-high 137 yards – his third game this season with over 100 yards – and two touchdowns.
Dorian Hamilton tallied 93 yards on 14 attempts with a long of 40.
Mysaun Sanders scampered for 81 yards on 12 attempts with a long of 34.
Jordan Ghant totaled 45 yards on three catches to lead the receivers.
Evan Thompson caught the game's only touchdown pass and finished with 26 yards on two catches.
Brady Gilligan had one catch for 13 yards.
Stanly Scandell was 3-for-3 on extra points, remaining perfect for the season.
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Ohio Wesleyan held Wooster to 229 total yards, 141 rushing and 88 passing. The Tigers were 5-of-17 on third downs, forced to punt six times, and turned the ball over three times, twice on downs alongside one interception.
Grant Johnson (four solos, eight assists) led the Battling Bishops defense with 12 total tackles and two tackles for loss.
Collin Wehner (two solos, five assists) and
Brayden Hatcher (one solo, six assists) were next with seven tackles apiece.
Ya'Va Harris (one solo, five assists) had six tackles.
Braydon Pavlus (two solos, three assists),
Shakil Young (two solos, three assists),
Miles Theetge (one solo, four assists),
Lucas Ward (one solo, four assists), and
Connor Asbury (five assists) all finished with five tackles.
Ward and
Carson Rust recorded a sack apiece.
Vicean Sample came up with an interception.
UP NEXT
The Battling Bishops look to make it three wins in a row next week, taking on Oberlin on the road at 12 p.m.
