Looks ahead to Homecoming bout with Battling Bishops
A cool fall air, hot grills along Mud Hollow and seats filling up at Little Giant Stadium reminded the Wabash community of one thing – football is back. On September 7, the Wabash College football team kicked off their season in style with a decisive 31-0 shutout against St. Norbert College, marking the program’s first shutout since 2019.
The Little Giants showcased their strong defensive presence, highlighted by an epic 100-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown to close out the first half. As St. Norbert’s offense was on the one-yard line, Cooper Jarvis ’25 knocked the ball out of the running back’s hand, allowing Sam Ringer ’26 to scoop up the loose football and take it to the house. Ringer’s fumble return for a touchdown broke the Wabash record for the longest fumble return of 93 yards set by BJ Hammer ’01 in 2000.
“I didn’t know I had a touchdown until about the 10-yard line,” said Ringer. “I slowed down enough for our corner to block their running back and that was enough for me to get down the sideline and outrun everyone else.”
The Little Giants’ stout defensive performance kept St. Norbert’s run-heavy offense off the scoreboard. Brock Robertson ’26 led the team with 10 tackles, while the team accumulated 69 tackles total. Associate Head Coach Jake Gilbert feels the team is already gaining momentum in his first year of running the defense.
“I thought the interior line was great and Ringer was strong on the perimeter,” said Gilbert. “We were stout on the line of scrimmage, devoting a lot of numbers to the blocks and it worked.”
Although the defense claimed the spotlight, it’s easy to overlook how polished and efficient the offense looked under new starting quarterback Blake White ’25. White threw for 175 yards, going 20 for 27 passing with an 11-yard touchdown to tight end Connor Garrity ’25. While being the predecessor to Liam Thompson ’24 is a tall task, White is letting the work he invested in the offseason set him up for this moment.
“I really wasn’t nervous coming into this game,” said White. “Each day in the offseason was about working to get 1% better and being as ready as I could to support my team and get the win.”
Head Football Coach Don Morel was also encouraged by White’s debut, as he committed no turnovers and adjusted to the different paces of the game. Coach Morel also knows that through film study and scouting a tough defense, White’s performance was a reflection of his preparation.
“He is the first one into practice everyday to look at film,” said Morel. “He spends about an hour studying with me and another hour on his own. He’s super driven and wants to be great.”
“I think our defense is still the best one I’ve played,” said White. “Knowing the defense I practice with everyday is better than the one I see on the field makes me feel better about what I’m going up against.”
On the ground, Xavier Tyler ’26 shined in his debut as the starting running back, rushing for 78 yards and securing the first and last touchdown of the game. Tyler set the tone for the Little Giants’ running attack, allowing the offense to stay balanced and keep St. Norbert’s defense guessing.
“I’ve waited two years sitting behind other guys, learning the plays and now I know what it takes to step into this role,” said Tyler. “Overall, it’s very special to not only serve as a veteran presence but be a leader for the offense and guys in my position.”
Wabash will face its first conference opponent in Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday, September 14 for their Homecoming matchup. Unlike St. Norbert, who was centered around running the ball with tight formations, Ohio Wesleyan operates with a spread out, pass-heavy offense. The defense will emphasize maintaining their physicality and being active on the ball in the pass game, while the offense will work to establish its identity.
“We’re an offense that runs the ball, hits big plays and moves the ball down the field, while not afraid to punt if we fail on third down,” said Morel. “We’re still figuring out who we are and this week will be one step towards that goal.”
Identity is one thing to keep a team going, but it takes a special culture to reach new heights. Following the 31-0 victory, a swarm of players surrounded Coach Gilbert, jumping up and down in celebration. Beyond physical preparation, opening the season with a statement win is a testament to Gilbert’s leadership and the positive impact he’s making on his players.
“I’m close with our guys,” said Gilbert. “I’m relational and authentic with them. I hope Saturday was a confidence building moment for our team and I want our guys to believe, because belief precedes action. I know what we can do with our talent, but I want to build champions before championships.
The road to an NCAC championship continues on Saturday against the Battling Bishops, with the intention to send a message to the conference that the Little Giants are here to play.