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September 26, 2021 | College Football: Illinois Wesleyan at CarthageSeptember 26, 2021 | College Football: Illinois Wesleyan at Carthage
Kodiak Creative
35
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 0-3 , 0-2
62
Winner Carthage CAR 2-1 , 2-0
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
0-3 , 0-2
35
Final
62
Carthage CAR
2-1 , 2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
IWU Ill. Wesleyan 0 7 0 28 35
CAR Carthage 7 27 14 14 62

Game Recap: Football |

Football Falls to Firebirds

Hamilton grabs three TD receptions in loss

KENOSHA, Wis. - A slow start plagued the Illinois Wesleyan University football team in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game at Carthage College Saturday, Sept. 25. The Titans fell behind early, trailing 34-7 at halftime, and could not overcome the early deficit as they dropped to 0-3 on the year, 0-2 in the CCIW with the loss to the Firebirds. Carthage jumped to 2-1 overall and remained unbeaten in league play (2-0) with the win.

Carthage cashed in on IWU's slow start to jump out to a 14-0 advantage. Illinois Wesleyan got on the board courtesy of a 24-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Sage Shindler (Chicago, Ill.-Walter Payton) to senior Wesley Watson (Carmel, Ind.-Carmel), but the Firebirds closed the half with 27 unanswered points to take control, 34-7, midway through the CCIW bout.

In the third quarter, Carthage added a 35-yard TD reception and a pick six to extend its lead to 48-7 into the fourth. 

Illinois Wesleyan broke the Carthage run with Shindler's 58-yard touchdown toss to sophomore Charlie Hamilton (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin). The ensuing kick was then returned 95 yards for a Carthage score, pushing the Firebird lead to 55-14. 

Senior Anthony Marre (Bloomingdale, Ill.-Glenbard North) capped a five-play, 65-yard IWU drive with his first touchdown of the season and Hamilton followed with two more TD grabs. After snagging a 20-yard reception for the score, Hamilton hauled in a 14-yard touchdown catch to cut the deficit to 55-35. 

The Firebirds added one more touchdown, a five-yard run with 36 seconds remaining, to close out the 62-35 setback.

Hamilton's three touchdown grabs highlighted a career day for the wideout, as he made eight catches for a career-high 178 yards. Watson finished with two catches for 35 yards, including IWU's other passing touchdown. 

Shindler finished 18-for-32 for 317 yards and a career-high four TDs. 

Overall, IWU's offense totaled 418 yards of total offense with 317 through the air and 101 on the ground. CC racked up 458 total yards, with 340 passing and 118 rushing. 

Defensively, senior Skyler Metzger (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North) picked up a team-high nine tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Senior Nicholas DeGregorio (Mokena, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central), sophomore Connor Nigro (Lisle, Ill.-Lisle), and junior Conor Murphy (Aurora, Ill.-Metea Valley) added seven tackles each. DeGregorio also notched 1.5 TFLs, including a sack, while Murphy was credited with two sacks in the game. Nigro added a forced fumble. 

For the first time since the season opener, IWU will return to Tucci Stadium next weekend, Oct. 2, for a Homecoming date with Elmhurst University. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

 
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