BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – After back-to-back weeks on the road, the Illinois Wesleyan University football team returns to Tucci Stadium Saturday, Sept. 28, for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tilt against Augustana College. Kickoff for the Titans' home opener is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Links on how to follow along with Saturday's game can be found on the football schedule page of IWUsports.com or by clicking here.
ALL-TIME AGAINST AUGIE: Saturday's showdown will be the 85th all-time meeting between Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana in a series that dates back to 1917. The Titans are the only team in the CCIW with a winning record versus the Vikings, as IWU leads the series 46-37-1, including a 24-17 mark at home. Illinois Wesleyan won the inaugural meeting 12-3 more than 100 years ago. Most recently, the Titans topped the Vikings 41-24 in Rock Island, Sept. 22, 2018, for their fourth straight win over Augie.
COMMON BONDS: Illinois Wesleyan Athletic Director Mike Wagner is the lone common link between the two conference foes. Wagner, a 1992 Augie graduate, played football for the Vikings for four seasons. A Honorable Mention All-American by Dan Hansen's Football Gazette, Wagner was an All-CCIW linebacker for the Vikings. He led Augie to three NCAA Division III Playoff appearances during his playing career.
SWIFT'S EVEN DOZEN: Senior Ryan Swift racked up a career-best 12 tackles at No. 17 Wheaton, Sept. 21. Swifts 12 tackles are the most by a Titan this season, as well as the most since Keenan Scott recorded 16 in IWU's 2018 finale against North Park, Nov. 10, 2018.
HOME COOKING: The Titans are 112-46 (.708) at home since Norm Eash became head coach in 1987. IWU holds a 8-2 record in its last 10 home openers.
NO FLAGS HERE: Illinois Wesleyan has been one of the more disciplined teams in the country so far this season, ranking third in the nation and first in the conference with just six penalties.
IT'S GOOD!: Freshman Jonathan Rukujzo is three-for-three in field goals this season and is one of 27 players nationally to be perfect on the season. Rukujzo has converted field goals of 22, 32, and 34 yards through IWU's first two games.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES: Augustana travels to Tucci with a 2-0 record (1-0 CCIW) following a 55-13 dismantling of Elmhurst, Sept. 21. Augustana has been dominant on both sides of the ball in its first two games. The Vikings are averaging 48.0 points and 448.5 total yards (202.5 rushing and 246.0 passing) per contest while limiting the opposition to respective figures of 8.0 and 237.0 (102.0 rushing and 135.0 passing).
Quarterback Zachary Fuller has completed 33-of-44 (75%) of his passes for 432 yards and eight touchdowns against just one interception. Bobby Jarosz has rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt.
Linebacker Luke Sawicki leads Augustana in tackles (19) and TFLs (four). He also has one of the Vikings' seven interceptions. Safety John Kappel, who is second on the team with 14 tackles, has picked off three opposition passes.
200-WIN CLUB: Thirty three-year veteran Norm Eash is one of just eight coaches nationally in NCAA Division III with 200-or-more career wins. Eash, who has won 208 games as the head man at his alma mater, ranks seventh in the country among active head coaches.
Redlands Head Coach and 1980 Illinois Wesleyan alumnus Mike Maynard joined Eash in the 200-win club with a 27-19 victory over Linfield, Sept. 21.
ON THE HORIZON: The Titans remain at Tucci next Saturday, Oct. 5, for a Homecoming clash with CCIW foe Carroll. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. It will be the 42nd meeting in a series that began with a 12-6 IWU in during the 1935 season. The Titans will look for their sixth straight win against the Pioneers.
