ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Another outstanding defensive performance helped the No. 12-ranked Illinois Wesleyan football team to a 28-10 win over Augustana at Lindburg Stadium in Rock Island, Ill., on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The Titans improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Vikings fell to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the league.
In the game, Illinois Wesleyan amassed 320 yards of total offense with 173 coming on the ground and 147 in the air. Junior running back
Morgan Alexander ran 27 times for 142 yards, equaling his game-high. Sophomore quarterback
Brandon Bauer completed 12 of 26 passes for the three TDs and 137 yards.
Augustana managed 162 total yards (84 rushing, 78 passing) with 71 coming in the second half. Linebacker
Jordan Hassan led the way with 13 total tackles, including two quarterback sacks, with
Trevor Staley adding seven and senior
Brinton Wilkey making six.
Eric Dubose and
Justin Krzeczkowski each had quarterback sacks for the Titan defense as Augie managed only 12 first downs to 21 for the Titans.
Augustana got on the board first with a 1-yard touchdown run by Austin Chausse with 7:28 to play in the first quarter, capping a 15 play, 65 yard drive. But Augustana managed only 26 yards the remainder of the first half and finished with 91 yards in the first 30 minutes.
The Titans scored with 48 seconds remaining in the first quarter when a 14 play, 77 yard drive was ended when
Dennis Bresingham caught a 1-yard pass from Bauer and
Patrick Tata added the extra point kick to even the game at 7-7.
Alexander had an 18-yard TD scamper wit h 11:43 to go before halftime and scored again on a 2-yard reception from Bauer with 31 seconds before intermission. That ended a 13-play, 75-yard drive and sent the Titans into halftime leading 21-7.
Augustana got a 27-yard field goal from Jacob Stytz with 112 to go in the third quarter to close to within 21-10 and IWU posted a touchdown after getting a short field on a 12 yard Augie punt. The 36-yard drive resulted in a TD pass from Bauer to
Jack Healy with 5:09 to play in the game. Healy finished with a team-high 41 yards on three receptions.
What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan's Homecoming game will be next Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Carroll University (1-4 overall, 1-2 CCIW) … Carroll lost 17-14 to Elmhurst as the Bluejays scored two second half TDs after trailing 14-3 at the half … The CCIW champion teams from 1996 and 2001 will be celebrated at the game next weekend.
