Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan football team amassed 489 yards of total offense and got a 100-yard kickoff return from junior Artie Checchin in a 42-35 season-opening win over No. 25-ranked Franklin at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington, Ill., on Sept. 6.

It is IWU's 21st consecutive win in September, dating back to 2007, and the next game will be the 1,000th in IWU football history. Illinois Wesleyan has a record of 559-398-42 in its 123rd year of football.

Checchin's kickoff return is the longest in IWU history, breaking the record of 99 set by Bill Alkire against St. Joseph on Oct 19, 1942. It is also the first kickoff return by an IWU player since Chris Bisaillon in 1990.

Checchin also had 161 receiving yards on seven catches and had 329 all-purpose yards (7 rushing, 7 punt returns and 154 total kickoff returns).

Freshman Jack Warner, making his first college start, completed 21 of 30 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 52 yards on nine carries.

The Titans were led in rushing by junior Anfernee Roberts, who turned in 140 yards on 26 carries.

Defensively the Titans were paced by Luke Roth with 10 total tackles while Sean Garvey had eight and Kyle Venhuizen and Zachary till each had six. Senior John Worley had three quarterback sacks, forced two fumbles, had an interception and broke up two more passes.

Offensively for Franklin, Grant Welp completed 26 of 48 passes for 303 yards and three TDs and ran for 60 more yards and a touchdown. The Grizzlies had 135 rushing yards and a total offense of 438 in the game.

Lucas Windell made 12 tackles for the Grizzlies and had a pass interception.

What's Next?
The Titans will play at Albion (Mich.) in a 1 p.m. (Eastern time) start.

SCORING PLAYS
1st 10:43 FC - Jonny Hession 6 yd pass from Grant Welp (S. Colligan kick) 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:17 0-7
1st 02:13 IWU - Roberts, A. 37 yd run (Kelley, Michael kick), 3 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:48  7-7
2nd 13:38 IWU - Warner, Jack 1 yd run (Kelley, Michael kick), 6 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:16 7-14
2nd 09:36 IWU - Muellers, Adam 6 yd pass from Warner, Jack (Kelley, Michael kick) 5 plays, 29 yards, TOP 1:58 7-21
2nd 06:46 FC - Dylan Jenney 14 yd pass from Grant Welp (S. Colligan kick) 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:47  14-21
2nd 06:30 IWU - Checchin, Artie 100 yd kickoff return (Kelley, Michael kick) 14-28
2nd 03:10 FC - Kole Stogner 10 yd punt return (S. Colligan kick)  21-28
2nd 00:18 IWU - Javorka, Andrew 4 yd pass from Warner, Jack (Kelley, Michael kick) 9 plays, 66 yards, TOP 2:47  21-35
3rd 04:59 FC - Grant Welp 25 yd run (S. Colligan kick), 9 plays, 94 yards, TOP 3:16  28-35
3rd 01:19 IWU - Checchin, Artie 12 yd pass from Warner, Jack (Kelley, Michael kick) 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:34  28-42
4th 05:12 FC - Zach Cole 6 yd pass from Grant Welp (S. Colligan kick) 6 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:12  35-42