WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team were overpowered by Carroll University, 70-23, Saturday, Sept. 23, in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game at Schneider Stadium in Waukesha, Wis. The Titans tumbled to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the CCIW with the loss, while the Pioneers pumped their record up to 3-0, 2-0 in the CCIW standings.

Three different quarterbacks completed passes for the Titans, while seven receivers hauled in catches. Junior Myles Kee (St. Louis, Mo.-St. Louis Priory) paced IWU with eight grabs for 139 yards, while fifth-year Kevin Graham (St. Johns, Ind.-Shepherd) snagged a pair of touchdown passes. Senior Matt Young (Bartlett, Ill.-Bartlett) was on the receiving end of IWU's other TD pass, the first thrown in the career of freshman Dermot Smyth (Chicago, Ill.-Marist).

Junior Zach McNees (Hillsboro, Mo.-Hillsboro) totaled team-highs of two sacks and three tackles for loss, as he finished with five total stops. Junior Sam Schott (West Lafayette, Ind.-West Lafayette) collected two TFLs as part of a six-tackle performance, while junior Jimmy Capecci (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred-Heart Griffin) led the team with eight stops. Senior Arthur Chatt (La Grange, Ill.-Lyons Township) added seven tackles.

A 37-yard field goal from freshman Kaden Junge (Mattoon, Ill.-Mattoon), the longest of his young career, served as IWU's only points of the first half. Meanwhile, the Pioneers used big plays and Titan miscues to pack on a 42-3 halftime lead.

A touchdown pass from junior Ryan Saxe (Palatine, Ill.-Fremd) to Graham was followed by a pair of TD tosses from Smyth in the second half. Saxe connected with Graham for a 43-yard touchdown reception after the Pioneers scored on their first possession in the third quarter.

Smyth then threw two dimes 62 seconds apart in his first collegiate appearance. First, the Chicago, Ill. native found Young for a 48-yard score with 1:16 left in the third quarter. Moments later, an interception by junior Artist Benjamin (Wilmette, Ill.-Loyola Academy) setup Smyth at the Carroll 11-yard line. Following a six yard run by the freshman, he found Graham for a five-yard touchdown pass. 

Back-to-back scores pulled IWU within 56-23 into the final period, but CU used a 28-yard TD reception to reclaim momentum and extend its lead, 62-23. The Pioneers piled on another score late in the fourth to put the final tally at 70-23.

Illinois Wesleyan remains on the road next weekend, Sept 30, with a short trip down to Decatur, Ill. for a battle with Millikin University. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.