CRAWFORDSVILLE, Indiana – Junior Jon Banal's interception returned to Wabash College's 10-yard line ignited a spirited effort from The College of Wooster football team, which was within 35-28 after trailing 28-0 in what went down as an eventual 45-35 Little Giants' win on Saturday afternoon at Little Giants Stadium.

Wabash's (3-1, 2-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) offense was not stopped until Banal stepped in front of a Little Giant receiver at the 39-yard line and picked star quarterback Liam Thompson off. Banal's return got to Wabash's 10-yard line, then sophomore Chanden Lee ran it in from there on a designed run, aided by a touchdown-springing block from senior tight end Sebestyen Balassy.

The quarterback-driven rushing script continued, with Thompson answering Lee's touchdown with a 59-yard keeper. Wooster (2-3, 1-2 NCAC) responded, starting with Lee hooking up with junior wideout Brazos Gadler on a 59-yard reception that advanced the ball to the Little Giants' 6-yard line. A pitch-and-catch went to junior wideout Andrew Hammer for the 2-yard score. Senior Lake Barrett's extra point had Wooster within 35-14 at halftime.

After Wabash missed a 51-yard field goal, Lee and Gadler immediately hooked up on a 38-yard completion that the Scots' top wideout made with a Little Giant on his back. From there, it was Wooster's lines and tight ends getting the job done time and time again in the trenches. Wooster dialed up the Philadelphia Eagles short-yardage package on a third-and-1 play, and Lee – and the Scots – powered forward for two yards. Wooster's touchdown – a Lee fourth-and-1 score – came on the exact same formation, and Barrett followed with an extra point that closed the Scots within 35-21.

Later in the third, Wooster swallowed up Wabash's fourth-and-1 push, stopping Cade Campbell short of the stick. Wooster's line and tight ends again aided Lee on a fourth-and-1 keeper, then Hammer completed a double-pass play to sophomore Jordan Lewis that moved Wooster down to Wabash's 19-yard line. On third-and-13, sophomore Tate Journell hesitated about five yards from the line of scrimmage, then took off, springing free for a wide-open 22-yard touchdown catch. Barrett's extra point with :56 remaining in the third quarter had the Scots within seven.

Two plays in particular were crucial in deciding Saturday's outcome. Wooster was flagged for pass interference on a third-and-16 play, with 21 yards getting marked off on enforcement. Wooster fortunately held from there, forcing Wabash to settle for a 28-yard Brody Rucker field goal that made it a 38-28 game. Next, Wooster's bid to get back within seven was blocked, as Gavin Ruppert got a hand on a Paul Thomas Fischer 48-yard field goal try with 8:59 remaining. Then, Thompson scrambled into the end zone from 35 yards out, and that score all but sealed the game with 4:15 left to go, as it upped Wabash's lead to 17.

Wooster scored in the final seconds when Lee's scrambling ability enabled Journell to pop open for a 77-yard touchdown pass. Barrett's onside kick rolled out of bounds, enabling Wabash to kneel down the remaining time.

Lee completed 15-of-31 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Most of the yardage went to Gadler and Journell, who combined for seven catches for 221 yards. Sophomore Jarvis Mims Jr. was the leading rusher with 56 stripes on 13 carries. Defensively, senior Kobe Nadu's eight tackles were the team high, while sophomore Louie Lindsay finished with seven solo stops. Banal added six tackles to his interception, while seniors Domenic DeMuth and Langston Williams also had six tackles.

Thompson, who became the NCAC's all-time leader in total offense, rolled up 490 yards on the day. He was 21-of-29 for 289 yards and four touchdowns through the air and added 201 yards and two scores on 15 carries on the ground. Gavin Ruppert's 13 tackles earned top honors for the game, while Hegwood followed with eight.

Wabash had 645 yards to Wooster's 391, with the Little Giants going for 356 yards on the ground. Wabash was 8-for-12 on third down, compared to just 2-for-13 for Wooster. On a positive note, Wooster outscored Wabash 35-24 over the final three quarters.

Next, defending NCAC champion DePauw University (6-0, 4-0 NCAC) comes to John P. Papp Stadium for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, October 14.