LA CROSSE, Wis. - After clawing its way back from a 14-point deficit, the No. 14 Illinois Wesleyan University football team's comeback fell short against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in overtime, 33-27, at Saturday, Sept. 14, at Veteran Memorial Stadium. The Titans took the lead with 12 minutes to go in regulation, but the Eagles returned a fumble 86 yards for the game-winning score in the second overtime period.
The Titans racked up 544 yards of total offense, 365 through the air and 179 on the ground.
Senior Brandon Bauer (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East HS) finished the day 32-of-55 for 365 yards and two scores. Seniors
Jack Healy (Northfield, Ill.-Glenbrook South HS) and
Dean Zigulich (Riverside, Ill.-Riverside-Brookfield HS) were Bauer's most popular targets, hauling in seven receptions apiece. Healy totaled a game-high 98 yards receiving to go along with two TDs.
On the ground, sophomore Hamid Bullie (Chicago, Ill.-Loyola Academy) turned in a strong IWU debut, carrying the ball 37 times for 177 yards.
Defensively, senior Trevor Koepke (Tinley Park, Ill.-Tinley Park HS) and junior
Keenan Scott (Evanston, Ill.-Riverside-Brookfield HS) led the way with seven tackles each. Koepke added a fumble recovery and two pass breakups, while Scott was credited with two tackles-for-loss and a pair of pass breakups.
IWU spotted UWL a 14-point advantage through one quarter of play, before senior quarterback Bauer found senior wideout Healy for an eight-yard strike with less than a minute to play in the first half.
The Eagles tacked on a field goal as the clock expired to take a 17-7 lead into the break.
After the IWU defense forced a three-and-out, Bauer scampered into the endzone for a one-yard TD to pull the Titans within three, 17-14. Freshman Jonathan Rukujzo (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield Central HS) tacked on a pair of field goals, including a 22-yarder, to give Illinois Wesleyan its first lead of the afternoon, 20-17, with one quarter remaining.
Following a 10-play, 63-yard touchdown drive that saw UW-La Crosse reclaim the lead, Bauer connected with Healy for his second TD of the day to put IWU in front, 27-24.
UWL split the uprights on a 38-yard field goal with 18 seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime. In the extra period, a nine-yard grab by the Titans was negated by an 86-yard fumble recovered for a touchdown to send IWU home with a 33-27 season-opening setback.
The Titans look to bounce back next weekend, Sept. 21, at No. 20 Wheaton College. Kickoff of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin clash is slated for 6 p.m. in Wheaton, Ill.
