BLOOMINGTON, Ill - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team returns to the road for its final regular season game of the year Saturday, Nov. 12 with a trip to Langhorst Field. The Titans will face College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opponent Elmhurst University on the Bluejays' home turf for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
The Titans enter the CCIW matchup fresh off a loss to No. 1 North Central College, 68-3, where the Cardinals saw an opponent put points on the board against them for the first time since Oct. 1. Illinois Wesleyan fell to 5-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play. Meanwhile, Elmhurst is looking for its first win of the season. Most recently, the Bluejays lost a heartbreaker to North Park University 23-20 on Nov. 5. Elmhurst fell to 0-9 on the season and 0-8 in league play.
Fans can tune into a video broadcast with Eric Stock calling the action on the field alongside Pup Washington, while live stats will also be available for the contest. Links can be found on the football schedule page of iwusports.com.
BATTLIN' THE BLUEJAYS: The Titans have an overall 56-12-1 record against the Bluejays. The first meeting between these two teams was in 1930 in Bloomington, Ill., which saw a 13-7 IWU victory. The Titans have won the past seven matchups with the Bluejays and 13 of the past 15 meetings between to the two foes.
Last season, the Titans recorded a 52-3 Homecoming win over the Bluejays. Seth Albin scored two touchdowns, including a 67-yard rushing TD and a 90-yard kickoff return score to start the game.
BROKE THE SHUTOUT: Despite a 68-3 defeat at the hands of the No. 1 ranked Cardinals last Saturday, the Titans managed to put points on the board - a feat few have accomplished against NCC this season. A 24-yard second-quarter field goal courtesy of Andrew Stange marked the first points allowed by the Cardinals since Oct. 1, when NCC downed Wheaton, 33-20.
Prior to Saturday's matchup, the Cardinals had outscored their opposition 228-0 over the four previous games.
WACH(AL) IT LIKE I TALK IT: Senior Anthony Wachal Jr. put together a senior day showing to remember against North Central, Nov. 5. The Elk Grove Village, Ill. product recorded 20 tackles, including 14 solo tackles, in IWU's battle with No. 1 ranked NCC. Wachal's 20-stop effort was not only a career-high, but also mark the second-most in program history. His performance was good for the most tackles by a Titan since Josh Addis set the record with 21 tackles against Augustana in 2003.
Additionally, 14 solo tackles is the most in a single game by a Titan since 2018 when Keenan Scott had 14 solos at North Park for a total of 16 tackles in the game.
On the national scale, Wachal is 17th in Division III and second in the CCIW with 5.8 solo stops per outing.
OLD FACES, NEW PLACES: Illinois Wesleyan fans will see a familiar face roaming the Elmhurst sideline Saturday, Nov. 12, when the Titans trek to Langhorst Field. Elmhurst head coach Jeff McDonald, who is in his fourth season at the helm, served as the Titans' defensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018. He helped the Titans to back-to-back CCIW Championships and a NCAA appearance under legendary head coach Norm Eash.
WITH A WIN…: With a win at Elmhurst, Nov. 12, the Titans will end with a winning season for the first time since the 2019 season when the Titans finished 6-4 on the year, including a 6-3 mark in league play.
NO FLY ZONE: Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Artist Benjamin finds himself amid a breakout season for the Titans in the secondary. Benjamin has set career-highs in just about every statistical category and has emerged as a lockdown defender within the CCIW. Nationally, Benjamin is seventh in passes defended, averaging 1.6 breakups per game.
IWU IN NOVEMBER: Illinois Wesleyan has posted a 46-37 record under longtime head coach Norm Eash.
