Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. - Illinois Wesleyan's defense stiffened when it had to late in the game and the offense mustered just enough to give the Titans a 13-9 win over Carthage in Kenosha, Wis., on Saturday (Nov. 5).

The No. 19-ranked Titans improved to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Red Men fell to 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the league.

IWU trailed 6-0 at halftime as Carthage's Kurt Krause connected on a 22-yard field goal with 7:46 to play in the first quarter to end a 12 play, 37-yard drive, and hit on a 30-yard field goal with 4:02 to play before the half. Krause also came up short on a 51-yard field goal try with a minute to play in the first quarter.

Krause made his third field goal from 44 yards away with 10:09 to play in the third period to stake the Red Men to a 9-0 lead. That drive was 10 plays and 42 yards.
The Titans got on the board with 4:29 to play in the third when sophomore Rob Gallik found senior tight end Parker Carroll for a 15-yard touchdown pass to put the finish on an 11-play, 82-yard drive that consumed 5:34.

Freshman Tony Angelos missed the extra point kick and the Titans were within three at 9-6.

Angelos missed on a 36-yard field goal with 8:06 to play and Carthage's next possession lasted just 1:42 with three plays and a punt.

IWU got the ball with 6:24 left after a 17-yard punt return by senior Erich Bushong provided good field position at the Carthage 38. The Titans marched down the field in seven plays to score on a one-yard run by junior Cameron Blossom with 2:52 to play. Angelos added the kick to give the Titans a 13-9 lead.

Carthage got the ball back in the ensuing kickoff and, on the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Taylor Beazley fumbled and it was collected by IWU senior Bret Swango at the Carthage 31. The Titans were able to run out the Red Men time outs and the clock to preserve the win.

In the winning drive, sophomore fullback Sean Conley, who finished with 22 rushing yards on nine carries, ran three times for 14 yards and caught an 11-yard pass.

The Titans amassed 225 yards of total offense, 159 by passing and 66 rushing, while the Red Men had 240 yards of total offense (144 passing and 96 rushing).

With 30 yards on 11 carries, Blossom was the leading rusher for IWU. Gallik, who was 15-of-28 for 159 yards, found senior Joey Driver for seven catches for 79 yards while junior Joe Musso caught three balls for 33 yards.

Senior linebackers Michael Whittington (12 total tackles) and Ryan Gresko (eight tackles) led the Titans defensively. Joe Schneider and senior safety P.J. Cummings each accounted for six tackles and senior back Scott Wenzel made an interception.

Beazley completed 19 of 35 passes for 144 yards for Carthage while Reggie Miles ran 81 yards on 21 carries.

NOTES: The 13 points is the lowest winning total for a Titan team since a 7-0 win at Augustana in 2009...Illinois Wesleyan hosts Augustana on "Seniors' Day" next Saturday (Nov. 12) at 1 p.m. at Tucci Stadium. The Vikings are 2-7 overall and 2-4 in the CCIW after a home loss to Elmhurst on Nov. 5. Senior QB David Lee led Augie on a 95-yard TD march in the final four minutes to get within one point of Elmhurst, but the ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed, allowing the Bluejays to escape with a 28-27 win...Augustana will be looking to avoid being the first Viking team with only two wins in an entire season since the 1958 squad finished 2-6-0...No. 6-ranked North Central (8-1, 6-0 CCIW) assured a tie for the league title and clinched the CCIW automatic bid to the NCAA Division III postseason after a 33-7 home win over Wheaton...North Central, who will be in the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, can secure sole possession of the CCIW title for the second straight year with a victory at home vs. North Park next Saturday...