Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Shea Gaffney celebration
Kodiak Creative
13
Elmhurst ELM 2-8 , 1-8
49
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 3-7 , 3-6
Elmhurst ELM
2-8 , 1-8
13
Final
49
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
3-7 , 3-6
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ELM Elmhurst 6 0 0 7 13
IWU Ill. Wesleyan 20 7 15 7 49

Game Recap: Football |

Football Sends Seniors Off with Win

Twelve-man senior class was recognized pregame

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team closed out the 2023 season with a 49-13 win over Elmhurst University on Senior Day Saturday, Nov. 11, at Tucci Stadium. Illinois Wesleyan concludes the season with a 3-7 record and a 3-6 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark. Elmhurst closed out the year 2-8, 1-8 in the CCIW.

The Titans put up a season-high 49 points in the win as freshman quarterback Dermot Smyth (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) became the first Titan with three rushing touchdowns since 2021. Smyth, who completed 8-of-12 passes, ran for scores of nine, one, and four yards. He is the first IWU player to accomplish the feat since Anthony Marre notched three TDs against North Park on Oct. 30, 2021.

Defensively, IWU stymied Elmhurst as the Bluejays mustered just 142 yards of total offense. The Titans tallied eight sacks and nine tackles for loss. Senior Joshua Klein (Glen Carbon, Ill.-Edwardsville) put together a 10-tackle performance on his birthday, which included 1.5 TFLs, both of which were sacks. Junior Arthur Chatt (La Grange, Ill.-Lyons Township) and Zach McNees (Hillsboro, Mo.-Hillsboro) picked up eight tackles apiece, with McNees adding a team-best three sacks. 

Elmhurst attempted a rare onside kick on the game's first kickoff that set IWU up with the ball in plus-territory before any time had run off the clock. Illinois Wesleyan quickly took advantage as Smyth connected with Albin for a 26-yard pickup before running it in himself for a nine-yard score.

The Bluejays responded with their own rushing touchdown, capitalizing on an IWU miscue, but the PAT was denied as McNees got a piece of it. 

Leading 7-6, the Titan defense came through with a pair of scores. First, junior Artist Benjamin (Wilmette, Ill.-Loyola Academy) picked off a pass and returned it 35 yards for a TD, before sophomore Shea Gaffney (Bloomingdale, Ill.-Glenbard North) followed suit with a 46-yard INT return. Benjamin registered the second pick-six of his career, while it was the first for Gaffney.

Illinois Wesleyan capped the scoring with a seven-play, 28-yard drive that resulted in a one-yard rushing touchdown by Smyth. The TD, Smyth's second of the day, put IWU ahead 27-6 at half.

The Titans turned up the pressure in the second half with a pair of sacks as the Bluejays began the third period with a turnover on downs. Gaining possession right around midfield, runs by Smyth and Albin pushed the Green and White into the red zone and set the table for a 12-yard touchdown grab by senior Kevin Graham (St. Johns, Ind.-Shepherd). Smyth then floated a pass to Albin for a two-point conversion, boosting the Titan lead to 35-6.

Illinois Wesleyan scored twice more on rushes by Smyth and Albin to finish off the season with a 49-13 victory.


 
Print Friendly Version