2018 Illinois Wesleyan Football Statistics

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Junior quarterback Brandon Bauer was chosen as the offensive "Most Valuable Player" for the second straight season and senior defensive back Trevor Staley was elected as the defensive MVP for the 2018 Illinois Wesleyan league championship football team.

The Titans finished with an 8-2 record and were 8-1 in sharing their second straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title.
 
Bauer (Frankfort, Ill., Lincoln-Way East HS) set single-season records in completions (269), passing yardage (3,234), total offense yards (3,299) and pass attempts (400) while becoming the school's all-time leader in completions (566), passing yards (6,746) and tied for first with 62 passing touchdowns. After three seasons, his .623 career completion percentage is second best in an IWU uniform.
Bauer also threw for 431 yards and five touchdowns against North Park, eclipsing the single game passing yard mark of 426, set by John Rooney against Elmhurst in 1983.
 
Staley (Lake Zurich, Ill., Lake Zurich HS) was a first team all-CCIW selection for the second straight season. He was sixth on the Titans with 42 total tackles, including 28 solo, and made a team-high six interceptions for 127 return yards. His 13 career interceptions is fifth most in an IWU uniform.

Junior running back Bryce Dooley (LeRoy, Ill., LeRoy HS) was selected as the team's "Most Improved Player." Dooley rushed for 57 yards on eight carries and made 56 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. He was also IWU's top kick returner, bringing back 10 kickoffs for a 17.6 average and making 13 punt returns for a 7.6 average.
 
For the second straight year, senior running back Morgan Alexander (Elmhurst, Ill.. York HS) was the winner of the "Best Skill" honor. Alexander had 251 carries for 1,026 rushing yards, fifth most in an IWU season, and improved to No. 8 in a career with 2,150 on the ground.
 
Senior defensive lineman Eric Dubose (Willowbrook, Ill., Hinsdale South HS) earned "Best Lineman" honors and freshman punter Brock Krohe (New Lenox, Ill., Lincoln-Way West HS) was the "Best Special Teams Player."
 

Dubose made 43 total tackles, including 25 solo, and made a team-high seven quarterback sacks for -58 yards. He also recovered three fumbles.
 
Krohe had 42 punts for an average of 33.1 yards per kick with a long punt of 50 yards and a total of 10 inside the 20-yard line.

Senior wide receiver John Zelenika (Frankfort, Ill., Lincoln-Way East HS) was the winner of the squad's "Doug Schmied Award", voted on by the coaches for loyalty, leadership, citizenship, most sports- and team-minded and attitude. The honor is named for Schmied, the Illinois Wesleyan senior offensive lineman who passed away in 2005.

Other team award winners were:

BEST BIG SKILL – Andrew Ostrowski, senior, linebacker (LaGrange, Ill., LaGrange Lyons HS)

MOST VALUABLE FRESHMAN – Jake Buhe, offensive line (Frankfort, Ill., Lincoln-Way East HS)

OFFENSIVE JUNIOR VARSITY PLAYER – Kaleb Spreitzer, freshman, wide receiver (Coal City, Ill., Coal City HS)

DEFENSIVE JUNIOR VARSITY PLAYER – Chase Viehman, freshman, linebacker (Glen Carbon, Ill., Edwardsville HS)

Head coach Norm Eash, who has a 32-year record of 208-105-1 and a CCIW mark of 150-82-1, awarded letters to a total of 58 players, including 45 who will return for next season. Go here for the complete list of 2018 football lettermen.