Box Score Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. - Sophomore quarterback Rob Gallik threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score to keep No. 14-nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan University's football team undefeated with a 24-12 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin victory over Elmhurst on Saturday (Oct. 15) at Langhorst Field.

The triumph kept the Titans tied for the league lead with North Central at 3-0 ahead of their homecoming showdown with the Cardinals this week's (Oct. 22) at 1:30 p.m. at Tucci Field in Bloomington. IWU has a 6-0 overall record to match its best start to a season since the 2000 squad won its first six contests.

The Titans defense, led by seniors Scott Wenzel and Erich Bushong, also turned in a another solid performance, limiting the Bluejays to a season-low 249 yards which was nearly 250 below their average entering the game.

IWU got on the scoreboard first as Gallik, who completed 20 orf 31 passes for 272 yards, hooked up with senior wide receiver Joey Driver on a 58-yard scoring strike with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter. Freshman Tony Angelos, who was short on a 47-yard field goal attempt earlier in the period, added his first of three conversion kicks.

Elmhurst, which saw its overall record drop to 3-3 and its CCIW mark to 1-2, got a 40-yard field goal from Trevor Spaulding with 14:19 remaining in the second quarter to cut into the IWU lead.

However, the Titans came right back with a 13-play, 68-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 3-yard run by Gallik. Key plays in the drive were a 22-yard pass to freshman Alex Hale on a third-and-eight play at the Elmhurst 44. That was followed by a 13-yard pass to junior Tate Musselman to put the ball at the Bluejays' 22.

IWU moved the ball to the Elmhurst 4 where it faced a third and goal situation. Gallik attempted an incomplete pass to Mussleman, but interference was ruled against the Bluejays to give the Titans new life. Two plays later, Gallik ran the ball into the end zone and Angelos added the conversion kick for a 14-3 lead with 8:13 left in the first half.   

Elmhurst responded with a 7-play, 57-yard drive on its next possession to cut its deficit to 14-9. Joe Furco hit Rodney Payton with a 13-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive. A bad snap from center caused the extra point kick to be  missed.

The Bluejays closed their gap to 14-12 three minutes into the second half as Spaulding connected on a 32-yard field goal.

IWU scored its third touchdown on a 2-yard pass from Gallik to Musselman with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter to end a 13-play, 70-yard drive. The Titans were successful on a pair of third down plays - a 22-yard pass to junior Joe Musso and a 13-yard pass to junior Brett Robinson - and a 12-yard fourth down conversion pass to Musselman in the drive.

The Titans completed the scoring with a 43-yard field goal by Angelos with 8:31 remaining in the game. The 14-play, 55-yard drive took nearly 6:30 off the clock. IWU's offense controlled the football for 33 minutes and amassed 370 total yards.

Gallik completed passes to six different receivers. Driver was the main target with six catches for a season-high 105 yards. Musselman had five catches for 44 yards, while Musso had four catches for 71 yards. Junior running back Cameron Blossom was IWU's leading ground-gainer with 74 yards on 25 carries.  

The Titans' defense held Scottie Williams, who entered the game as the league's leading rusher, to 127 yards on 28 carries. Elmhurst had 110 yards in passing. IWU senior Bret Swango intercepted a pass, while fellow classmate Will Jenkins recovered a fumble to thwart Elmhurst's last two offensive possessions.

Wenzel led IWU defense with 11 tackles, including six solos, while Bushong had four solo tackles and three assists.