Little Giants (0-0) vs. Hanover (0-2) - Sept. 8
It wasn't a pretty win, but it was a season-opening win nonetheless said Wabash head coach Eric Raeburn after his team was penalized 15 times for 152 yards. Despite the penalties against Hanover College, a good mix of defense and offensive combined for a 15-6 halftime lead for the Little Giants on their way to a 33-12 win. Wabash's offense came almost exclusively through the air - just 29 rushing yards on 31 carries compared to more than 300 yards passing by senior quarterback, Chase Belton. Belton was 25-31 for 327 yards and three touchdowns.
Final score: W, 33-12
Little Giants (1-0) vs. Denison University (0-1) - Sept. 15
Wabash surrendered just two points, and got its second win of the season over Denison University by a wide margin. At halftime, the Little Giants led 14-2, and by the third quarter, the lead was doubled, 28-2. While a bulk of Wabash's offense came again from the air - 218 yards by Belton - three touchdowns were scored on the ground. CP Porter rushed seven times for 50 yards, Belton tallied 27 yards and one touchdown and Vann Hunt pitched in 26 yards and a touchdown. The Little Giants defense shined, and Cody Buresh earned NCAC player of the week honors with six solo tackles and assisting on five others.
Final score: W, 35-2
Allegheny (1-1) vs. Little Giants (2-0) - Sept. 22
In a game that sent ripples across the NCAC and the national scene, Wabash suffered its first home loss in 13 games and its first loss to Allegheny College since 2005 in an overtime loss. Coming in to the game, the Little Giants' rushing defense was ranked second in the country, allowing just 28.5 yards per game. In overtime, Wabash was handed its first loss of the season by a 28 yard field goal. Beltonhad a sub-par performance, completing 14 of 32 passes of 137 yards. Belton and his offense converted just three of 16 third downs, and the defense didn't tally a sack.
Final score: L, 20-17
Carnegie Mellon (4-0) vs. Little Giants (2-1) - Sept. 29
The Wabash offense snapped out of its one-game funk and erupted for more than 50 points a week after being shocked at home against Allegheny. Against Carnegie Mellon University Belton set a Little Giants school record for touchdowns responsible for with seven - three rushing and four throwing. Belton ran for a career-best 198 yards and was 13-23 through the air for 183 yards. After the weekend, he was named NCAC player of the week and was selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week. However, the victory didn't come that easy. After the first quarter, Carnegie Mellon led 21-14 because of a 92 yard punt return for a touchdown with three minutes remaining. More than 1,000 yards of offense was tallied between the two teams, with Wabash holding the edge 566-455.
Final score: W, 54-28
Little Giants (3-1) vs. Wittenberg (4-1) - Oct. 6
Junior tight end and defensive end, Charlie Kolisek, led Wabash against Wittenberg University and earned NCAC player of the week honors for his efforts. He caught the first touchdown pass from Belton and recorded the first interception of the day off the first Wittenberg offensive possession and recorded a sack on the Tigers' second-to-last offensive drive of the game. However, there was another struggle on offense and defense for the Little Giants. At halftime, the Little Giants led 13-3. In the third quarter, Wittenberg fought back with 14 points and was down just 20-17 into the fourth quarter. The teams exchanged touchdowns, and it was the Wabash offense who closed the game out, tallying a 16-play, 48-yard drive to eat up more than nine minutes of clock.
Final score: W, 27-24
Little Giants (4-1) vs. Washington (1-4) - Oct. 13
Struggles in the Little Giants rushing game early in the season looked worn off against Washington University in St. Louis in week six. Belton was once again the centerpiece of a dangerous rushing attack by Wabash as he accounted for his team's first two touchdowns - both runs more than 55 yards. Belton led all rushers with 166 yards on the ground, more than half of the 345 yards netted for the Little Giants. In total, four touchdowns were scored on the ground, two more by CP Porter and Tyler Holmes.
Final score: W, 34-14
Wooster (2-4) vs. Little Giants (5-1) - Oct. 20
Chase Belton was held off the field because of suffering a concussion against Washington, and junior Andy Walsh took the helm again against College of Wooster. Walsh accounted for two Wabash touchdowns: two through the air and one on the ground for a 30-0 win. The Little Giants offense was bolstered by a dynamic rushing game led by Tyler Holmes. Holmes carried the ball 25 times for 189 yards. CP Porter tallied 72 yards on nine carried, and the Wabash offense totaled 295 yards on the ground. The defense complemented the efficient offense, as Wooster gained just 195 yards. Wabash also tallied four sacks for 27 negative yards for the Fighting Scots.
Final score: W, 30-0
Little Giants (6-1) vs. Ohio Wesleyan (7-0) - Oct. 27
For the second week in a row, Wabash blanked its opponent, the running game was excellent and Belton was efficient through the air. Despite Ohio Wesleyan's 406 yards of total offense, the Little Giants' defense stood up three red zone threats from the Battling Bishops. However, all of Wabash's 28 points came in the second quarter. That's when Belton found wide receiver, Houston Hodges, for 82 yards and Sean Hildebrand for 71 yards. Holmes gained 214 yards on the ground, and Belton has 235 yards through the air. The defense tallied five sacks and two interceptions.
Final score: W, 28-0
Little Giants (7-1) vs. Oberlin (3-5) - Nov. 3
The Little Giants showed a chink in its armor against Oberlin - a shaky defensive secondary. The Yeomen's Josh Mandel threw for 353 yards, four touchdowns and one interception to lead his team over Wabash at Crawfordsville, on senior day. The Little Giants scored midway in the first quarter, and then didn't score again till the third. Belton threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. On the ground, Holmes tallied another productive weekend - running for 152 yards. However, it was four passes more than 40 yards from Oberlin that downed Wabash.
Final Score: L, 31-16