SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Wabash put together a seven-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown reception from Brand Campbell to TJ Alexander with 45 seconds left in the ballgame to give the Little Giants a 31-28 North Coast Athletic Conference win over Wittenberg on Saturday at Edwards-Maurer Field.
The Little Giants improved to 8-1 on the year and 7-0 in North Coast Athletic Conference play, while the Tigers fell to 4-4 and 3-3. The victory sets up a showdown for the 2024 conference title when Wabash and DePauw, 9-0 overall and 7-0 in conference games, meet in the 130th Monon Bell Classic next Saturday in Greencastle.
Wabash took a 24-13 lead on a 12-yard touchdown run by Xavier Tyler late in the third quarter. Tyler ran for 199 yards on a career-high 29 carries. He scored two touchdowns in the game, picking up his first on a 46-yard scamper late in the first half to put Wabash on the scoreboard with Wittenberg holding a 13-7 lead. Tyler topped 1,000 yards for the season, becoming the 17th Little Giant to post 1,000 rushing yards in a season. The leading rusher in the North Coast Athletic Conference has 1,002 yards through nine games this season.
Brody Rucker added a 29-yard field goal to send the Little Giants to the locker room at halftime, trailing 13-10.
Connor Thompson caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Campbell midway through the third quarter to give the Little Giants their first lead of the game at 17-13. Tyler added the 12-yard scoring run to send the two teams to the final quarter with Wabash in front 24-13.
The host Tigers opened the fourth-quarter scoring with an 80-yard, 11-play drive that finished with a seven-yard TD pass from Jayden Miller to Kade Ray. Wittenberg connected on a two-point conversion pass from Miller to Troy Teepe to make it a 24-21 game in favor of Wabash.
The Little Giants could not generate a first down on their next possession and were forced to punt. Wittenberg responded with a 12-play, 66-yard drive, scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a Miller pass to take a 28-24 lead with 1:56 left to play.
Campbell led the Little Giants down the field on the final drive, completing five consecutive pass attempts to move the football to the Tigers’ 16-yard line. The Wabash quarterback hit Alexander with a pass at the goal line for the game-winning score with 45 seconds remaining.
The Wabash defense took over from there. With Wittenberg out of timeouts, the Little Giants stepped up the pressure and generated two sacks by Jerry McBee, who set up the TD pass to Thompson by blocking a Wittenberg punt. The Tigers ended the game with a short pass completion but could not get another play off before the clock reached zeros.
McBee recorded six tackles, including 2-1/2 sacks for 12 yards and the blocked punt. Michael Hegwood and Samuel Ringer each made eight tackles. The Little Giants racked up six sacks for 39 yards as part of eight tackles for losses totaling 46 yards. Wabash also recovered two Wittenberg fumbles that led to ten points. Ringer and Ayden Salpietra recovered the fumbles, with Hegwood forcing one of the turnovers.
Campbell completed 17 of 24 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception. Alexander caught six passes for 67 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Thompson added six receptions for 44 yards and one TD.
The win is the fifth in six games against Wittenberg and marks the first time in the all-time series that either team has posted three consecutive conference victories. Wabash takes a 14-13 lead overall in games against Wittenberg and holds a 13-11 edge in NCAC games versus the Tigers.
Wabash and DePauw meet for the third consecutive season, with the winner of the Monon Bell game not only claiming the 300-pound rivalry trophy but also earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. DePauw has won the past two seasons, including a 33-30 double-overtime victory last year at Wabash.
GAME NOTES
• Wittenberg outgained Wabash 373-328 in the contest.
• Wabash won the turnover battle 2-0 after recovering two fumbles.
• Wabash had its highest scoring quarter in the third period when it scored 14 points.
• Wabash converted 4 of 13 third downs while Wittenberg was successful on 5 of 10.
• Wabash went 2-for-2 on fourth down, converting on 100 percent of attempts.
• Brand Campbell completed 70.8% of his passes on the day, going 17-for-24.
• Jayden Miller led the Tigers passing attack, completing 21 of his 28 attempts for 245 yards and three touchdowns.
• Eric Rasheed was Wittenberg’s leading receiver with 88 yards.
