BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University football team closes out the 2019 season at home Saturday, Nov. 16, against North Park University. Kickoff between the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foes is scheduled for 1 p.m., while IWU will recognize its 23-man senior class prior to the game.
IWU is 5-4 on the year and 5-3 in CCIW play following a loss at nationally ranked North Central, Nov. 9. Meanwhile, North Park notched its first win of the season with a 38-14 Senior Day victory over Elmhurst, Nov. 9.
Links on how to follow along with Saturday's game can be found on the football schedule page of IWUsports.com.
THANK YOU SENIORS!: Saturday's season finale will mark the final games in the careers of Illinois Wesleyan's 23-man senior class. Prior to kickoff, the Titans will honor Trevor Koepke, Nico Gubenko, Bryce Dooley, Dave Lux, Brandon Bauer, Johnny Dicanio, Patrick Tata, Dean Zigulich, Jake Kapp, Robert Hanrahan, Ryan Paslay, Jack Healy, Gio Garcia, Victor Arizmendi, Ryan Swift, Frank Urbanski, Sam Soto, Ethan Emerson, Zach Walsh, Chrystian Maciorowski, Chance Hilliard, Wulfgang Rankenburg, and Juan Bahena.
Together, the class has combined for 29 wins, two CCIW Championships, and countless IWU game, season, and career records.
A LOOK AT THE ALL-TIME LEDGER: Illinois Wesleyan and North Park will meet on the gridiron for the 60th time since 1960. IWU has dominated the all-time series, besting NPU in 55 of 59 meetings.
Most recently, Illinois Wesleyan spoiled North Park's Senior Day with a 40-13 win in the Windy City for the Titans third straight victory over the Vikings. Moreover, prior to a 2015 loss to NPU the Titans had won 29 straight against North Park dating back to 1986. Illinois Wesleyan is a perfect 30-0 at home against North Park all-time.
HEALY HAULS IT IN: Senior captain Jack Healy hauled in his fifth touchdown catch of the season and the 25th of his career at North Central, Nov. 9. For his career, Healy now ranks fifth in IWU history with 25 career TD receptions and has the most since Martin Ceisel grabbed 30 scores from 2005-08.
Healy also ranks fifth with 2,198 receiving yards and seventh with 148 career catches.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW BY NOW: Mike Murphy is amid one of the best defensive seasons by a Titan in program history. With one game remaining, Murphy has made a strong case for defensive player of the year. The Orland Park, Ill. native is ranked second in the conference with 14.5 tackles for loss, while his 11.5 sacks are the most of any CCIW player. Nationally, Murphy is fifth with 1.28 sacks per game and 34th in the country with 1.6 TFLs per contest.
For the year, Murphy is third in IWU single season history with 11.5 sacks. He trails John Worley's second-place mark of 12 by just a half sack. Jeff Heinzl owns the record with 19 QB takedowns in 2000.
IWU IN NOVEMBER: Illinois Wesleyan has compiled a 45-34 record in the month of November under the tutelage of Norm Eash. The Titans are 3-3 in the month since 2016, with one of its three setbacks being a NCAA Division III playoff game against Case Western, Nov. 18, 2017.
GETTING STOPS: Illinois Wesleyan's defense has been especially good on third and fourth downs this season. IWU is slotted third in the conference in both third and fourth down conversion defense. The Titans' opponents are converting just 29.6 percent of the time on third down (26th nationally), and 25 percent of the time on fourth (18th nationally).
BEHIND ENEMY LINES: The Vikings enter the final weekend of the regular season on the heels of a 38-14 Senior Day win over Elmhurst, Nov. 9. The win was North Park's first under first-year head coach Kyle Rooker.
NPU has struggled to put points on the board this season, averaging just over 11 points a game, but has found its stride as of late. After being shutout three times in its first six games, the Vikings are averaging 22 points a contest over the last three weeks.
Defensively, Uati Pati has racked up 50 tackles, including 14.5 for loss, and six sacks. His TFLs and sack totals are the most of any Viking. Meanwhile, Uluao Letuli has a team-high 74 tackles.
HOME COOKING: The Titans are 115-47 (.710) at home since Norm Eash became head coach in 1987. IWU has won 14 of its past 17 home games dating back to the 2016 season.
