BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team makes the short 48-mile trek south on US 51 for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin matchup at Millikin University. Kickoff between IWU and MU is slated for 1 p.m. at Frank M. Lindsay Field.
Both teams enter the weekend looking to get off the schneid. IWU (0-3, 0-2 CCIW) is coming off a 70-23 loss at Carroll University, Sept. 23, while the Big Blue (0-3, 0-2 CCIW) suffered a 38-0 shutout at North Park, Sept. 23.
Fans can tune into a video broadcast with Eric Stock calling the action on the field alongside Joel Swanson, while live stats will also be available for the contest. Links can be found on the football schedule page of iwusports.com.
NEEDING A W: The last time Illinois Wesleyan met Millikin on the gridiron without a win under their belt, excluding the 2020 COVID season when the two squads opened the season against one another, came in Norm Eash's second year at the helm of his alma mater. IWU entered the 1988 clash with an 0-3 record following losses to Wheaton (27-10), Benedictine (36-18), and Carthage (7-0). Millikin would claim that bout, 39-8.
Furthermore, Saturday will mark the first time the Titans and Big Blue will square off without either team having a win since the 1946 campaign. That year, IWU held an 0-2 standing, while Millikin sat at 0-1. The Green and White then bested MU, 12-7, to earn its first win of the season.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES: Junior defensive end Zach McNees has spent plenty of time in opponent's backfields this season, as evidence by his league-leading 6.0 tackles for loss. The Hillsboro, Mo. native is also tied for third with 2.5 sacks on the year. Nationally, McNees is 21st in TFLs and 64th in sacks.
FRESHMAN SLINGER: Freshman Dermot Smyth made his collegiate debut Saturday, Sept. 23, at Carroll. The Chicago, Ill. product completed 7-of-11 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball for a net of 21 yards.
IT'S GOOD!: Freshman Kaden Junge split the uprights from 37 yards out in IWU's game at Carroll, Sept. 23. The field goal, which was a career-long for Junge, is the longest by a Titan since Andrew Stange converted a 41-yarder against Augustana, Oct. 29, 2022. Additionally, Junge's kick is the longest by an IWU freshman since Stange made a 46-yard field goal against Carthage, Oct. 12, 2019.
SPREADING IT OUT: Illinois Wesleyan's trio of quarterbacks spread the ball around at Carroll, Sept. 23, as 10 different receivers caught at least one pass. Junior Myles Kee led the corps with nine receptions for 145 yards, while Matt Young and Kevin Graham snagged four apiece. Tre Moore caught three passes, while Marco Palaganas, Melchizedek Woodson, Jack Friedewald, Danny Kent, Jahari Scott, and Collin Elledge recorded one catch each. The game marked the first time 10-or-more Titans caught a pass in a game since Oct. 2, 2021 when 11 different players recorded receptions against Elmhurst.
WINNING TRADITION: Veteran head coach Norm Eash is one of just two active coaches nationally in NCAA Division III with 200-or-more career wins. Eash, who has won 225 games as the head man at his alma mater, ranks second in the country among active Division III head coaches. Across all NCAA divisions, Eash is sixth trailing Alabama's Nick Saban (282), North Carolina's Mack Brown (277), LSU's Brian Kelly (275), Sam Houston's K.C. Keeler (259), and Bethel's Steve Johnson (245).
LONGEVITY IN LEADERSHIP: Illinois Wesleyan Head Coach Norm Eash is one of the longest tenured head coaches in all of college football across the NCAA. Now in his 36th season at the helm of the Titans, Eash is the second-longest tenured head coach in the nation behind only Al Bagnoli (Columbia - 40 seasons). Notably, of the most experienced coaches nationally, Eash is the only one with 34+ years of experience coming at one institution.
TEAM AWARDS - WEEK THREE: Myles Kee, Zach McNees, Jahari Scott, and Joey Demaio were IWU's week three team MVPs as voted by the team. Kee was named Offensive MVP, with Scott and Demaio garnering Co-Special Teams MVP honors. McNees picked up his second team MVP award of the year. Mason Hage (co-offense), Joe Gaskill (co-offense), Mike Pantazis (co-defense), and Mo Khalil (co-defense) were voted scout players of the week. Dermot Smyth was the recipient of the Titan Award.
ON THE HORIZON: The Titans return to the confines of Tucci Stadium Saturday, Oct. 7, for a Homecoming matchup with Washington University of St. Louis. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
