BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team never trailed Saturday, Oct. 1, as the Titans took down Millikin University, 38-24, to improve to 3-1 on the season and 2-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. With the loss, Millikin dipped to 2-2 (1-2 CCIW) on the year.

The Titans racked up 398 yards of total offense, while the IWU defense limited MU to just 153 yards of offense. Illinois Wesleyan went for 346 yards through the air, where sophomore quarterback Ryan Saxe (Palatine, Ill.-Fremd) went 23-for-35. Saxe's top target was senior Charlie Hamilton (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin), who went for 71 yards on seven catches. Sophomore Myles Kee (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis Priory) hauled in six catches for a game-high 115 yards and a touchdown, while senior Kevin Graham (St. Johns, Ind.-Shepard) finished with two TDs and 97 yards receiving.

The Green and White's defensive front caused the Big Blue pain all afternoon, as IWU recorded seven sacks for a loss of 58 yards. The sophomore trio of Josh Hlavacek (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield North), Zach McNees (Hillsboro, Mo.-Hillsboro), and Owen Phaby (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) led the pressure up front. Hlavacek finished with career-highs of 2.5 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss. McNees tallied two QB takedowns and three TFLs, while Phaby added 1.5 sacks in his first career start. 

Also picking up a sack for the Titans was junior Joshua Klein (Glen Carbon, Ill.-Edwardsville), who led IWU with seven stops. Hlavacek and senior Anthony Wachal Jr. (Elk Grove Village, Ill.-Conant) recorded six tackles apiece. 

Illinois Wesleyan got out to a hot start, scoring the game's first 17 points. After a sack by Hlavacek and a few MU penalties, a Big Blue punt gave IWU first and 10 with a short field. Junior Seth Albin (Midlothian, Ill.-Oak Forest) finished off the eight-play, 49-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give IWU a 7-0 edge.

Another momentum shifting play by the defense, this time a 10-yard sack by McNees, forced another Millikin punt. A 27-yard catch by Payton Gerberding (Bourbannais, Ill.-Bishop McNamara) got the Green and White's drive rolling before Saxe connected with Graham on back-to-back throws. The second snag over the middle by Graham was good for a 47-yard touchdown catch, IWU's longest passing play of the season, and put Illinois Wesleyan in front 14-0 with 3:54 left in the opening stanza.

A fourth-down conversion was followed by a 12-yard scramble by sophomore quarterback Jay Lemenager (Clifton, Ill.-Clifton) which eventually led to a 22-yard field goal by Stange. The kick extended IWU's advantage to 17-0 just inside the second quarter.

Millikin used a pair of interceptions to crack the scoreboard. MU cashed in for a 42-yard touchdown toss after IWU's first interception, before a 55-yard pick six pulled the Big Blue within three, 17-14.

A good return by sophomore Tre Moore (Cool Valley, Mo.-Ritenour) allowed IWU to begin its final drive of the first half just short of midfield. Albin took it from there, moving the chains with a five-yard scamper before the junior back shook off a few Big Blue defenders on a 15-yard touchdown catch. The score sent Illinois Wesleyan into halftime with a 24-14 advantage.

Millikin could not muster much on a second-half opening drive, as a Big Blue punt quickly gave the Titans possession at their own 45-yard line. The Green and White quickly struck for seven as Saxe aired out a 64-yard pass to Kee. The play, which marked IWU's longest passing play since 2018 (Jack Healy from Brandon Bauer vs. North Park - Nov. 10, 2018), upped the IWU lead to 31-14 with 12:53 on the clock in the third quarter.

In front 31-21 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Titans saw the Big Blue make it a one score game with a 30-yard field goal. 

The Green and White reclaimed a double-digit advantage on a shovel pass from Saxe to Graham for a 43-yard scoring play. The touchdown, Saxe's fourth and Graham's second of the day, finished out the scoring in a 38-24 victory for IWU.

Illinois Wesleyan hits the road Saturday, Oct. 8, for a battle with Washington University in St. Louis. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in St. Louis.