Box Score

HOLLAND, Mich. - The Illinois Wesleyan football team improved to 3-0 with a 23-13 win against Hope in Holland, Mich., on Saturday (Sept. 22).

The Titans got on the board with 3:58 to play in the first quarter on a fake ount play on fourth down and 6 to go when a 46-yard pass was completed from Mike Heaton to Dan O'Neill. Freshman Michael Kelley added the extra point kick to give IWU a 7-0 lead.

The Titans got the ball back on the next Hope possession when sophomore Tyrell Bolden forced a fumble that was recovered by Joe Schneider, giving IWU the ball at Hope's 33 yard line. Two plays later, junior Rob Gallik found senior Parker Carroll on a 33-yard TD pass with 1:44 remaining in the first to stake IWU to a 14-0 lead after Kelley's kick.

IWU got the ball back three plays later on a Bolden interception and on the next series, Bolden returned a punt 58 yards to get the ball to the Flying Dutchman 6 yard line. From there, senior Cameron Blossom rushed for a 6-yard score with 13:23 to play in the second quarter.

Kelley finished IWU's scoring with a 39-yard field goal with 9:23 to go in the third quarter.

Hope tacked on late scores on a 5-yard pass from Michael Atwell to Vincent Boddy with 3:51 to play in the third quarter and on a 1-yard run by C Subdon with 5:07 left in the game, capping an 11-play 69 yard drive.

Illinois Wesleyan held a 286-179 edge in total offensive yards as Gallik threw for 207 yards, completing 17 of 30 passes. Blossom was the Titans' top rusher with 29 yards on 12 carries.

Atwell was 18 of 38 for 119 passing yards for the Flying Dutchman (1-3). Shawn Jackson had 13 carries for 44 yards.

Stephen McGinnis had 10 total tackles to pace IWU while Bolden had five with an interception and the forced fumble. Heaton also had an interception.

The Titans are at home next Saturday (Sept. 22) for a 6 p.m. game against Millikin to open 2012 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play.