WHEATON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team ran out of steam in a 42-21 setback at Wheaton College Saturday afternoon, Oct. 12. The Titans were doomed by turnovers as IWU's record dipped to 2-3 on the year and 2-2 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin competition. Wheaton climbed to 3-2 overall, 3-1 in the CCIW with the win.

The Green and White scored early in the fourth quarter as junior Jahari Scott (Lake Bluff, Ill.-Lake Forest) ran it in from three yards out before hauling in a two-point conversion pass from sophomore Dermot Smyth (Chicago, Ill.-Marist). The score cut the Wheaton lead to seven, 28-21, with 12 minutes to play. It was as close as the Titans would get though, as the Thunder quickly responded with a 51-yard touchdown pass to reclaim a 35-21 lead and down IWU, 42-21.

Smyth finished 20-for-34 with 145 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Smyth was also IWU's top rusher with 20 carries for 44 yards. Scott added nine rushes for 30 yards, including a TD.

Smyth's top target was senior Myles Kee (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory), who finished with six grabs for 32 yards and a score. Senior Tre Moore (Cool Valley, Mo.-Ritenour) added four catches for a team-high 41 yards, while Scott also hauled in a touchdown catch and added 115 return yards.

Defensively, senior Cole Pradel (Oswego, Ill.-Oswego) led the Titans with eight tackles. Seniors Jimmy Capecci (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) and Sam Schott (West Lafayette, Ind.-West Lafayette) added six each, while Schott also notched a TFL and pass breakup. Senior Josh Hlavacek (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield North) and sophomore Matt Hansen (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) added three tackles for loss each, tying for the game-high, with each registering a sack in the loss.

Illinois Wesleyan finished with 254 yards of total offense, while Wheaton compiled 404 yards. IWU went for 103 yards on the ground and 151 through the air. The Thunder racked up 272 passing yards with 132 rushing yards as the home team finished with 22 first downs to IWU's 18. In all, the Titans turned the ball over four times with two interceptions and two fumbles.

The Green and White came out strong early, as the defense forced the Thunder to cough the ball up on the game's first drive. Hansen, sophomore Nathan Schmidt (Chicago, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep), and senior Zach McNees (Hillsboro, Mo.-Hillsboro) collapsed the pocket and forced a fumble, which Schott pounced on around the 30-yard line to stall the Thunder drive.

Gaining the ball with good field position, IWU converted on fourth-and-six as Smyth connected with Kee in the middle of the field to move the chains. An eight-yard pickup on a screen pass to Scott had the Titans driving, but Wheaton bottled up Illinois Wesleyan from there to force a turnover on downs.

A near sack by McNees rushed a throw by the Wheaton QB which was broken up in the endzone by senior Artist Benjamin (Wilmette, Ill.-Loyola Academy), but the deflected ball was pulled in for a Thunder touchdown right at the goal line. The play capped on an 85-yard drive by Wheaton as the home team drove ahead, 7-0, with just over four minutes to play in the opening quarter.

Illinois Wesleyan's ensuing drive lasted just four plays as a completed pass was fumbled, handing the ball back to Wheaton at the IWU 44-yard line. The Thunder capitalized on the miscue, finding the endzone on a 13-yard pass on the first play of the second quarter as Wheaton doubled its lead, 14-0.

Smyth and Scott come through in the ground game to get Illinois Wesleyan's drive going. A big block by senior Caleb Heims (Dubuque, Iowa-Hempstead) gave Smyth a gaping hole to set up first-and-goal from the Wheaton two-yard line. With the Thunder defense playing man-to-man, Smyth hit Kee for a two-yard touchdown. The score finished out a 14-play, 60-yard drive that chewed up more than seven minutes of game time to cut the Wheaton lead in half, 14-7.

A tipped ball that resulted in an interception gave WC another opportunity as the Thunder began their drive at the IWU 28-yard line with just over two minutes left in the half. After Mark Forcucci completed a six-yard pass, Schmidt and Hlavacek took down Giovanni Weeks for a loss on third down. Getting right back after it with Wheaton going for it on fourth-and-five, Hlavacek sacked the WC quarterback to turn the ball over on downs with less than a minute left on the clock.

After Wheaton scored on its first drive of the second half, Illinois Wesleyan responded with a 10-play, 40-yard scoring drive of its own. Setup by a great return from Scott, the Titans used big gains from sophomore Jimmy Deacy (Chicago, Ill.-Mount Carmel) and junior Danny Kent (Addison, Ill.-Fenwick) to move into the red zone. The drive stayed alive thanks to a pass interference call against the Thunder, which IWU made the most of as Smyth hit a wide-open Scott for a seven-yard touchdown pass. 

Wheaton blocked Illinois Wesleyan's PAT effort before going 76 yards in three plays to climb ahead, 27-13.

Scott powered the Green and White's offense on its next drive as the junior finished off the six-play, 75-yard possession with a three-yard scamper into the endzone. A successful two-point conversion cut Wheaton lead to seven, 28-21, but the Thunder tacked on two scores en route to riding out the win.

Illinois Wesleyan returns to Tucci Stadium next weekend, Oct. 19, for a battle with the Big Blue of Millikin University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.