BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Illinois Wesleyan Titans opened their home season with a 49-14 win over the Alma Scots at Tucci Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, rushing for 346 yards and gaining 583 yards of total offense.

Freshman Matese Scott ran for a 90-yard touchdown with 4:02 to play and the run is the third longest in IWU game history, behind the 98 yard run by Paul Oliver (vs. Western Illinois; Oct. 7, 1944) and a 95-yarder by Sam Bodman (vs. Eureka; Nov. 6, 1927).

Junior Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore had an 82-yard TD run with 5 seconds to play in the third period, the eighth longest run in IWU game history. He finished with 146 yards on the ground on 10 carries.

The game was tied at 14-14 before the Titans put a TD on the board to go ahead 21-14 with 27 seconds to play before intermission on an 8-yard pass from sophomore Jack Warner to Andrew Javorka, the first of his two TDs. IWU outscored Alma 28-0 in the final half.

Senior Artie Checchin made six catches for 101 yards and Javorka finished with six grabs for 66 yards. Warner was efficient, completing 21 of 25 passes for 237 yards.

Defensively, IWU had 27 players make tackles, led by five from senior Timmy Smith. Kevin Slawkowski and Tyrell Bolden made interceptions for Illinois Wesleyan.

Senior kicker Michael Kelley made seven extra-point kicks and has 11 this season. He now has 113 in his career and is closing in on the career record of 116, held by Todd Rozboril, who played from 1994-97. Kelley's 175 career points is sixth all-time at IWU.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan is at home again next Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Simpson College at Tucci Stadium.