WHEATON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team fell in its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener Saturday night, Sept. 17, at 10th-ranked Wheaton College. The Titans (1-1, 0-1 CCIW) were downed by the Thunder (1-1, 1-0 CCIW) by a final score of 42-7 under the lights at McCully Stadium.

In the first start of his career, sophomore Ryan Saxe (Palatine, Ill.-Fremd) completed 27-of-41 passes for 293 yards, all of which were career-highs. Saxe's top target was sophomore receiver Myles Kee (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis Priory), who hauled in a game-high 12 catches for a career-high 168 yards. Senior wideout Charlie Hamilton (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) added seven grabs for 93 yards and a touchdown. 

Overall, the Green and White finished with 311 yards of total offense to 452 yards by the Thunder. IWU went for 293 yards in the air and 18 yards on the ground, while Wheaton tallied 121 rushing yards and 331 passing. 

Sophomore Frank Roti (Orland Hills, Ill.-Andrew) and senior Anthony Wachal Jr. (Elk Grove Village, Ill.-Conant) finished with eight tackles apiece. The duo along with junior Joshua Klein (Glen Carbon, Ill.-Edwardsville), senior Fernando Chavez (Plainfield, Ill.-Joliet Catholic), sophomore Zach McNees (Hillsboro, Mo.-Hillsboro), and senior Conor Murphy (Aurora, Ill.-Metea Valley) notched a tackle for loss each. Klein recorded seven tackles and a fumble recovery, while sophomore Jimmy Capecci (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) made six stops and forced a fumble. Klein and Murphy were credited with IWU's two sacks. 

The Thunder won the turnover battle 4-1, as the Titans threw three picks and fumbled once. On the flipside, the IWU defense forced a fumble and held Wheaton scoreless over the final 32 minutes and 17 seconds.

With Wheaton out in front, 28-0, Illinois Wesleyan's offense put together a 10-play, 73-yard drive. Setup by a big block by Hamilton, Kee gained 15 yards for a first down in Wheaton territory. Saxe then found Kee for a 17-yard grab, before a run by Ian Kroemer (Aurora, Ill.-Oswego East) put the Titans on the edge of the redzone. Facing second and seven, Saxe found Hamilton across the middle for a 27-yard score with just under nine minutes to go in the second quarter. 

After the Titans and Thunder traded three-and-outs, the IWU defense looked to have Wheaton bottled up on third and long. With the Titans flooding the backfield on third and long, the Thunder connected on a 24-yard passing play to move across midfield. The Thunder then completed a 32-yard pass to Giovanni Weeks for the score.

Wheaton capitalized on a Illinois Wesleyan turnover with an 18-yard touchdown pass to take a 42-7 lead into halftime, but the Titans tightened up on defense from there.

Out of the break the Titans defense came up with a key takeaway as Capecci punched the ball loose and Hlavacek recovered it to give IWU prime field position right out of the gate. Saxe quickly found Hamilton down the sideline for a 27-yard pickup, but the Green and White turned it over on the very next play as a busted trick play resulted in an interception. 

The Titans responded with an efficient finish to the third quarter, going 7-for-10 in the passing game and 2-for-3 on third down offensively after their opening series. Meanwhile, the IWU defense stepped up, holding the Thunder scoreless for the period to maintain the 42-7 score into the final stanza.

Illinois Wesleyan threatened a few times over the final 15 minutes of action, but could not convert as the Titans fell, 42-7.

The Titans return to the friendly confines of Tucci Stadium next weekend as the Green and White hosts Carroll University Saturday, Sept. 24. The Homecoming clash is slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff.