BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University football team fell to Franklin College 35-21 in its season opener Saturday afternoon, Sept. 4, at Tucci Stadium. The Titans (0-1) led 14-0 after just seven minutes of play, but the Grizzlies (1-0) scored twice in the second half to down IWU.
Illinois Wesleyan's offense put up 490 yards, 325 through the air and 165 on the ground, while Franklin finished with 354 total yards of offense (180 passing, 174 rushing). Senior tailback
Hamid Bullie (Chicago, Ill.-Loyola Academy) led the rushing attack with 21 carries for 141 yards.
Sophomore
Charlie Hamilton (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) finished with 128 yards and a pair of touchdowns as sophomore quarterback
Sage Shindler's (Chicago, Ill.-Walter Payton) top target. Senior
Jacob Potthoff (Woodstock, Ill.-Marian Central Catholic) was on the receiving end of Shindler's other TD, hauling in his first career score on a 35-yard diving catch in the endzone. Shindler finished the day 22-for-44 for 325 yards, three touchdowns, and a pick.
Defensively, seniors
Nicholas DeGregorio (Mokena, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central) and
Conor Murphy (Aurora, Ill.-Metea Valley) led the Titans. DeGregorio finished with 12 stops, four assisted and eight solo, as well as 1.5 tackles for loss. Murphy added 10 tackles, highlighted by a TFL. Senior
Skyler Metzger (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North) notched eight tackles, 1.5 for loss, while seniors
Tyler Maple (Plainfield, Ind.-Plainfield) and
Jack Dawson (Peoria, Ill.-Peoria Notre Dame) registered interceptions.
The Titans got off to a strong start as Shindler found Hamilton for 25-yard and 50-yard touchdown strikes to put IWU in front, 14-0, with 8:02 to go in the opening quarter.
After Franklin responded with 21 unanswered points, Shindler connected with Potthoff for a 35-yard TD to even the score at 21 all at halftime.
Out of the break, Franklin capitalized on good field position. Beginning their drive at the IWU 38-yard line, the Grizzlies needed just four plays to take a 28-21 lead with 5:14 to go in the third period.
IWU had a chance to pull within a score late in the fourth, but could not punch it in, allowing Franklin to run out the clock on the 35-21 defeat.
Illinois Wesleyan returns to action in two weeks, Sept. 18, when the Titans travel to Carroll University for their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. in Waukesha, Wis.
