WHEATON, Ill. - The No. 18 Illinois Wesleyan University football team could not find an offensive rhythm at No. 17 Wheaton College Saturday evening, Sept. 21, at McCully Stadium. The Titans (0-2, 0-1 CCIW) got out to an early lead but could not maintain it, dropping their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener to the Thunder (2-0, 1-0 CCIW), 24-10.

Sophomore Hamid Bullie (Chicago, Ill.-Loyola Academy) found the endzone for his first career touchdown to put IWU ahead 7-0 midway through the opening period. A 26-yard field goal was followed by a nine-yard rushing TD and an 18-yard touchdown catch as Wheaton scored 17 unanswered to take control, 17-7. Freshman Jonathan Rukujzo (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield HS) converted a 24-yard field goal to make it a one-score game into the break. The Thunder wrapped up the scoring with a nine-yard run in the third quarter to push their lead to 24-10.

Illinois Wesleyan mustered 151 yards of total offense, with 112 coming through the air and 39 on the ground. Meanwhile, Wheaton combined 239 rushing yards with 174 passing to finish the game with 413 yards of total offense. 

Defensively, seniors Ryan Swift (Brookfield, Ill.-Riverside-Brookfield HS) and Trevor Koepke (Tinley Park, Ill.-Tinley Park HS) led the way for the Titans. Swift finished with 12 tackles, eight solo and four assisted, and a forced fumble. Koepke also finished with double-digit stops, adding 10 tackles. Overall, IWU finished with six tackles-for-loss, including a sack by Mike Murphy (Orland Park, Ill.-Carl Sandburg HS). The sack was one of two TFLs for Murphy, who tied senior Francis Urbanski (Riverside, Ill.-Riverside-Brookfield HS) for the team-lead.

Illinois Wesleyan continues CCIW play against Augustana College next weekend, Sept. 28. Kickoff of IWU's home opener is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Tucci Stadium.