KENOSHA, Wis. – The Illinois Wesleyan University football team spoiled Carthage College's Homecoming with a 31-7 victory at Art Keller Field Saturday, Oct. 12. The Titans controlled from the start, scoring the first 24 points of the game en route to their third straight win.

With the victory, Illinois Wesleyan moved to 3-2 on the season and 3-1 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play. On the flip side, Carthage slipped to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in league play.

Senior quarterback Johnny Dicanio (Elmhurst, Ill.-York HS) stepped up in the first start of his career, leading IWU to 412 yards of total offense. Dicanio finished the game 22-of-30 through the air with 254 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a pair of rushing TDs.

Dicanio's favorite target was senior Jack Healy (Northfield, Ill.-Glenbrook South HS), who hauled in 10 passes for 123 yards. It marked the fifth 100-yard game of Healy's career and his first of this season. Senior Zach Walsh (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East HS) added six catches for 67 yards, while seniors Bryce Dooley (LeRoy, Ill.-LeRoy HS) and Dean Zigulich (Riverside, Ill.-Riverside-Brookfield HS) caught touchdown passes for the Titans.

Sophomore Hamid Bullie (Chicago, Ill.-Loyola Academy) led the way in the ground game with 16 carries for 109 yards. Bullie, who broke loose for a 51-yard gain in the waning minutes, picked up the third 100-yard game of his career and his second in as many weeks.

Illinois Wesleyan's defense kept the Carthage offense off-balanced all afternoon as the Red Men finished with 265 yards of offense and went 1-for-11 on third down. The Titans allowed just 40 rushing yards and recorded 14 tackles for loss, highlighted by four sacks.

Senior Dave Lux (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way North HS) made a team-high eight tackles, including four for loss. Lux was one of five Titans to get in a quarterback takedown, as sophomores Nicholas DeGregorio (Mokena, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central HS) and Zack Tencza (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) added a sack each. Seniors Trevor Koepke (Tinley Park, Ill.-Tinley Park) and Mike Murphy (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg HS) also tallied an assisted sack.Koepke racked up seven stops with 1.5 TFLs, and senior Chance Hilliard (Marion, Ill.-Marion HS) registered three tackles for loss.

Freshman Andrew Stange (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich HS) nailed the first field goal of his career, a 46-yarder in the opening frame. Stange's kick ranks as the third longest in IWU history, as well as the longest field goal by a Titan since Mike Berry hit a 47-yard kick against Wheaton Oct. 23, 2004.

Illinois Wesleyan scored the first 24 points of the game to hold a 24-0 lead with just over a minute to play in the opening half. Dicanio ran for a score before finding Dooley and Zigulich for scores, while Stange added a 46-yard field goal. A Carthage 15-yard touchdown pass broke the shutout and gave IWU a 24-7 advantage at the break.

A one-yard scamper by Dicanio in the third quarter was the final points by either side as the Titans claimed the 24-point victory, 31-7.

Illinois Wesleyan remains on the road next weekend with a trip to Elmhurst, Ill., Oct. 19, to take on the Bluejays of Elmhurst College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.