Wabash College erased a 13-point halftime deficit with 17 unanswered third-quarter points to take the lead over nationally ranked Washington University in St. Louis on Saturday afternoon. The eighth-ranked Bears rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to defeat the Little Giants 27-17 in North Coast Athletic Conference football action at Little Giant Stadium.
Wabash (4-3, 3-3 NCAC) forced three turnovers in the third quarter, including two interceptions by Gage Gulley, to turn a 13-0 halftime deficit into a 17-13 advantage entering the final period. Washington University (7-0, 6-0 NCAC), ranked eighth in the D3football.com poll and seventh in the American Football Coaches Association rankings, scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to remain undefeated.
The Little Giants finished with 307 yards of total offense and 20 first downs while controlling the football for 34:40. Wabash converted four of five fourth-down opportunities but struggled to finish scoring chances against a Bears defense that recorded six sacks, two interceptions and two blocked kicks.
Cole Dickerson led the Wabash offense with 108 rushing yards on 32 carries, marking his fourth consecutive game with at least 108 rushing yards. Dickerson also caught five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown, extending his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown to seven. He surpassed 1,500 career rushing yards in the contest.
Quarterback Jackson Gilbert completed 19 of 35 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Witte led the receivers with 77 yards on four catches. Luke Adams added five receptions for 39 yards, while Keith Jackson caught two passes for 43 yards.
Gulley led the Wabash defensive effort with a career-high 12 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. His two interceptions were also a career best and accounted for 38 return yards. Carson Foxen added seven tackles, one sack and his first forced fumble of the season. William Harris recorded seven tackles to surpass 100 career stops, bringing his total to 101.
Washington University opened the game with a 15-play, 76-yard touchdown drive that consumed nearly eight minutes. Quarterback Levi Moore connected with Matthew Kinoshita for a 3-yard touchdown pass, but Camden Singer blocked the extra-point attempt to keep the score at 6-0 with 6:57 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Wabash offense responded with a 13-play possession that included three third-down conversions. Gilbert completed passes of 11 and nine yards to Adams and an 18-yard strike to Jackson to move the Little Giants into scoring position. The drive stalled at the Bears’ 21-yard line, and a 47-yard field goal attempt by Tyler Church was blocked.
Washington University extended its lead to 13-0 early in the second quarter on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Colin Donahue.
Wabash responded with its longest possession of the game, a 17-play, 71-yard drive that consumed 8:59. Dickerson carried the ball repeatedly to move the Little Giants downfield, while Gilbert connected with Witte for gains of 11 and 17 yards. Wabash converted two fourth-down opportunities, including a 4-yard quarterback keeper by Gilbert that gave the Little Giants a first down at the Bears’ 8-yard line.
The scoring opportunity ended when Gilbert was intercepted by Trey Knox at the Washington University 1-yard line with 4:33 remaining in the half. The Bears maintained their 13-0 advantage at halftime.
Wabash seized momentum immediately after the break when Jackson returned the second-half kickoff 65 yards to the Washington University 34-yard line. Gilbert connected with Witte for a 22-yard gain to the Bears’ 8 before Church converted a 25-yard field goal to put the Little Giants on the scoreboard with 12:03 remaining in the third quarter.
The Wabash defense quickly created another scoring opportunity. Gulley intercepted Moore and returned the football 35 yards to the Bears’ 13-yard line. On the next play, Gilbert connected with Domanic Barnett for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Church’s extra point trimmed the Washington University lead to 13-10 with 10:55 remaining in the period.
Gulley intercepted Moore again on the Bears’ next possession, returning the football three yards to the Wabash 49-yard line. Although the Little Giants were unable to capitalize on that takeaway, the defense produced another turnover moments later.
Gulley forced a fumble by Washington University running back Karsten Cornell that Messiah Belton recovered at the Bears’ 27-yard line with five minutes remaining in the quarter. The recovery was Belton’s first of the season.
Wabash needed five plays to take its first lead of the afternoon. Gilbert found Barnett for a 17-yard completion to the Washington University 5-yard line before connecting with Dickerson for a 3-yard touchdown pass. Church added the extra point to give Wabash a 17-13 advantage with 2:48 remaining in the third quarter.
The Little Giants’ defense forced a punt on Washington University’s ensuing possession, allowing Wabash to carry its four-point lead into the final quarter. The three takeaways in the third period helped produce 14 points off turnovers.
Washington University regained the lead early in the fourth quarter after beginning a possession at the Wabash 41-yard line following a punt. Moore completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Donahue to finish the five-play drive, putting the Bears ahead 20-17 with 12:12 remaining.
Wabash mounted another sustained possession behind Dickerson, who carried the ball eight times during a nine-play drive. The Little Giants advanced from their own 27 to the Washington University 30-yard line before an 8-yard loss pushed them backward. A blocked punt on the ensuing fourth-down play gave the Bears possession at their own 44-yard line.
Washington University capitalized with a three-play, 56-yard scoring drive. Brayden Lewis broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run to extend the Bears’ lead to 27-17 with 5:30 remaining.
The Little Giants continued to battle, converting a fourth-and-11 opportunity on a 27-yard pass from Gilbert to Witte. Wabash advanced to the Washington University 11-yard line before Brett Kersemeier intercepted a pass in the end zone for a touchback with 1:37 remaining.
Wabash forced one final punt and regained possession with 30 seconds remaining. Gilbert connected with Jackson for 25 yards on fourth down to reach the Bears’ 38-yard line, but the Little Giants could not score before time expired.
Lewis led Washington University’s rushing attack with 103 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Moore completed 14 of 22 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns despite throwing two interceptions. Makael Carter caught six passes for 91 yards, while Donahue finished with two touchdown receptions.
The Bears recorded 321 yards of total offense, including 150 rushing yards, compared to 307 yards for Wabash. Washington University converted four of nine third downs, while the Little Giants finished 7-for-18. Wabash limited the Bears to 41 yards of total offense in the third quarter.
Wabash returns to the road Saturday, Oct. 31, for a 1 p.m. NCAC contest against Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.
