DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University football team (5-3, 4-3 NCAC) earned its fourth straight win on Saturday afternoon, defeating Wabash (4-4, 3-4 NCAC) 35-28 at Selby Stadium. The win marks the first time the Battling Bishops have toppled the Little Giants since October 23, 2021 – incidentally with the same 35-28 final score; though the 2021 meeting was decided in overtime.
Wabash took the lead first after forcing a punt on OWU's opening drive, scoring on a 26-yard pass from Jackson Gilbert to Luke Adams to finish off an eight-play 47-yard drive at the 9:35 mark.
Ohio Wesleyan responded immediately with a 14-play 72-yard touchdown drive to tie the game 7-7 with 3:23 remaining in the opening period. Senior quarterback
C.J. Jackson found
Jordan Ghant on a 12-yard pass for the score.
OWU's defense stood strong on the Little Giants' next drive, forcing Wabash into a 23-yard field goal attempt which clanged off the left upright to keep the score at 7-7 through the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started with four straight three-and-outs: two for each team. The last – a Wabash three-and-out – came without a punt as
Tyler Thornton intercepted Gilbert on the OWU 25 and returned it five yards to the 30.
Bolstered by the momentum swing, the Bishops pushed 70 yards down the field in just five plays to take a 14-7 lead with 6:17 left in the half. Jackson tossed his second TD of the game, going 36-yards to
Kenny Thompson Jr.
After another six plays and a punt for the Little Giants, Jackson and Thompson Jr. connected again for a six-yard touchdown with just 41 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The play capped off a 12-play 80-yard drive to make it 21-7 heading to halftime.
Wabash took the opening possession of the second half just five yards before Gilbert's second interception of the game.
Connor Stephens came up with the pick on his own 33 and returned it 15 yards to the 48, plus an extra 15 for an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Little Giants.
With excellent field position at the Wabash 37, Ohio Wesleyan needed just six plays to take it the rest of the way for a 28-7 lead at the 10:10 mark of the third quarter. Ghant caught his second touchdown of the day on an 11-yard pass from Jackson.
The Little Giants took the ensuing possession 50 yards to the OWU 21 before being stopped once again on another pick by the Bishop defense. Nadir Lagston jumped in front of Brand Campbell's pass in the endzone to get the Battling Bishops the ball on their own 20.
Six plays later,
Dorian Hamilton broke a 31-yard run to paydirt to finish off the 80-yard drive, giving Ohio Wesleyan a 35-7 lead with 5:13 left in the third quarter.
The next possession saw the Little Giants get down to OWU's nine yard line before being left empty-handed after a fourth interception.
Collin Wehner was the one to come down with it in the endzone, keeping the game at 35-7 heading into the final 15 minutes.
The Red and Black turned to a run heavy offense in the fourth quarter in hopes of taking time off the clock. Despite allowing Wabash to inch back with three unanswered touchdowns, the strategy would pan out thanks to three onside kick recoveries by the Battling Bishops.
OWU would successfully keep the Little Giants down by a score and drained the clock to just five seconds. Wehner – on to punt – put enough air under the ball for the clock to hit zero before being downed on the Wabash four yard line, ending the game 35-28.
OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
C.J. Jackson completed 23-of-36 passes for 237 yards and four touchdown passes – both season highs. He led an OWU offense that earned a total of 394 yards.
Giovanni Rufus netted 66 yards on 16 attempts, leading an Ohio Wesleyan rushing group that gained a total of 157 yards.
Dorian Hamilton finished with 50 yards on seven carries and one touchdown.
Reed Wehr recorded 23 yards on five touches.
Kenny Thompson Jr.,
Evan Thompson, and
Jordan Bryant each finished with 53 yards. Thompson Jr. did it with four catches and took two of them for touchdowns. Thompson did it on five catches and Bryant did it on three.
Jordan Ghant caught two TDs for a total of 23 yards.
Stanly Scandell converted on 5-of-5 extra points.
DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Battling Bishop defense held Wabash to a season-low 71 yards and picked off a season-high four passes.
Tyler Thornton,
Connor Stephens,
Collin Wehner, and
Nadir Langston came up with the interceptions.
Wehner recorded a season-high nine tackles, including six solos, to lead the Bishops. Langston finished with eight, followed by
Grant Johnson with six, and
Braydon Pavlus with five. Stephens,
Vicean Sample,
Jacob Slyh, and
Tyson Keyes all finished with four.
Lucas Ward and
Carson Rust both had a sack.
Brayden Hatcher and
Abe Davis both finished with a half sack.
UP NEXT
The Battling Bishops will host No. 7/8 WashU (8-0, 7-0 NCAC) next Saturday for senior day at Selby Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
