CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — Lightning struck twice for Case Western Reserve University in Saturday's football game at Little Giant Stadium, and Wabash College made sure it counted on the scoreboard.
The host Little Giants endured multiple delays caused by thunderstorms Saturday in West Central Indiana, eventually relocating the second half of their home opener to Crawfordsville High School. Wabash (2-0) rallied for 17 points in the fourth quarter to secure a 38-28 victory over Case Western (0-1-1).
It marked the Spartans' second straight weather-affected contest. A week earlier, Case Western played to a 17-17 tie at Rowan University when storms on the East Coast halted play late in the third quarter.
Saturday's change of venue came 1:15 into the third quarter after another lightning delay at Little Giant Stadium. The move sparked Wabash, which broke open a 21-21 halftime tie to give head coach Jake Gilbert his first home win. It also marked his return to a field where he used to coach against the Crawfordsville High School team in his days as a high school coach at nearby North Montgomery.
The unusual setting was not new for Wabash. Nearly 25 years ago to the day, the Little Giants moved their 2000 home and North Coast Athletic Conference opener against Wittenberg to Crawfordsville High School because of weather and field conditions. That game lasted more than seven hours and ended in a 41-10 loss. This time, Wabash left with a different outcome.
When the game initially started after an opening delay pushed the kickoff back one hour, Wabash and Case Western traded scores through the first half, starting with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brand Campbell to Luke Adams to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive in the first five minutes of the first quarter. The Spartans responded, taking a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter on two touchdown runs of one and 24 yards from quarterback Sam DeTillio. The Little Giants answered with rushing scores from Campbell (two yards) and running back Xavier Tyler (five yards) to move in front 21-14, before Case tied the game again on a short run by Jake Kavcic just before halftime.
The two teams played for just over one minute into the third quarter in at Little Giant Stadium after another lengthy delay before more lightning and heavy rain forced a conversation among officials from both schools to discuss the change in locations. Both teams and fans made the two-mile jaunt to CHS to watch both squads play a scoreless third period.
Wabash finally pulled ahead for good in the final quarter. Brody Rucker's 25-yard field goal early in the fourth gave the Little Giants a 24-21 advantage. Campbell then found wide receiver TJ Alexander for a 4-yard touchdown pass, and Cole Dickerson powered in from two yards out to push the lead to 38-21. Case Western added a late touchdown pass from Andrew Lowe to Liam O'Brien, but Wabash ran out the clock to seal the win.
Campbell led the Wabash offense, throwing for 208 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-30 passing while also rushing for 66 yards and a score. Adams caught six passes for 94 yards and an early touchdown, while Alexander added three receptions for 22 yards and a score. Tyler rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Dickerson added 71 yards and a score on the ground.
The Little Giants' defense collected four sacks and six tackles for loss. Wade McAllister, Brody Frey, Dakota Johnson, and Jerry McBee each recorded a sack, while Brock Robertson topped the team with seven tackles.
Wabash finished with 420 yards of total offense compared to 284 for Case Western. The Little Giants converted 11 of 18 third-down chances and controlled the fourth quarter with a 9:22 edge in time of possession.
Wabash begins its 25th season of NCAC competition next Saturday with a road contest at the College of Wooster at 2 p.m.