BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team is back in action this Saturday, Oct. 5, as the Titans ready for a Homecoming date with Washington University in St. Louis at Tucci Stadium. Kickoff of the key College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game is set for 1 p.m.
    The Titans will look to run their win streak to three Saturday as they carry a 2-1 overall record into the bout. IWU moved to 2-0 in CCIW play with a 35-0 wire-to-wire win over Carthage College, Sept. 28. WashU saw its unblemished start to the year halted with a 49-9 setback at top-ranked North Central College, Sept. 28. The Bears enter the weekend with a 2-1 overall record and a 1-1 CCIW standing.
    Fans can tune into a live stream of the game  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.

BATTLING THE BEARS: Illinois Wesleyan and WashU will battle on the gridiron for the 23rd time since the series began back in 1899. The Titans narrowly trail the Bears, 12-10, in the series. Despite dropping the latest three chapters in the storied rivalry, IWU has won seven of the last 12 meetings. On the flip side, the Bears held the upperhand in the early years of the series as WashU won six of the first seven games between the two.

HOMECOMING HAPPENINGS: In the last 58 years, Illinois Wesleyan has compiled a 37-21 record in its Homecoming games. The Titans have come out victorious in four of their past five Homecoming matchups, most recently winning against Carroll in comeback fashion, 26-21, in 2022. IWU dropped last season's Homecoming bout with WashU, 38-10.
    The weekend will see the Titans recognize members of the inaugural 1994 women's soccer team. Associate Athletic Director Tony Bankston, who was the program's first-ever head coach, spoke about the history of the program on this week's edition of Titan Table Talk.

POW POW: For the second straight week, Illinois Wesleyan saw a student-athlete recognized as one of the CCIW's top performers. Reeling in CCIW Defensive Player of the Week honors, Sept. 30, Zach McNees joins Dermot Smyth (offense - Sept. 23, 2024) as IWU's honorees this season. McNees tallied six tackles, three for loss, and three sacks in the Titans shutout of Carthage.

TITANS IN OCTOBER: The Titans have compiled a 103-57 (.644) record in the month of October under Norm Eash. More recently, in the past seven seasons, IWU is 27-10 in October.

QBS BEWARE: The Titans ferocious defense has wreaked havoc in the backfield through the first three games of the 2024 season. The Green and White is averaging 3.67 sacks per game, the 22nd-most in all of Division III and the most of any team in the CCIW. The effort is led by Zach McNees, Matt Hansen, and Josh Hlavacek, all of whom rank in the top-108 individually. McNees, the conference leader, is averaging 1.33 QB takedowns per contest, while Hansen and Hlavacek are tied for 108th with 0.67 sacks per game.

NO SOUP FOR YOU!: Illinois Wesleyan's shutout of Carthage in the Titans home opener was a flashback to the 2022 season. With its 35-0 win over Carthage, Sept. 28, the Green and White posted its first shutout since Oct. 22, 2022 when it held the Firebirds scoreless en route to a 55-0 victory. That game featured a 35-yard pick six from Frank Roti, while Josh Hlavacek added a strip sack and a blocked kick.

CAN'T CATCH KENT: Illinois Wesleyan's offensive performance in Saturday's 35-0 win over Carthage was highlighted by a career day on the ground from Danny Kent. Carrying the ball a career-high 12 times, Kent rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns. His 103 yards were not only a career-high, but also rank as the third-most by a player in the CCIW this season. In fact, IWU is the only team in the conference with two 100-yard rushers this season as Dermot Smyth's 101-yard performance at Elmhurst ranks fourth in the league.

ELLEDGE ON REPEAT: With a career-long catch of 59 yards, tight end Collin Elledge hauled in a touchdown for the third straight game. He is the first Titan to catch a TD pass three games in-a-row since Charlie Hamilton did so from Oct. 8-22 against WashU, North Park, and Carthage.

THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Illinois Wesleyan has seen significant improvements in ball security and its ability to force opponents into turning the ball over. Through the first three games of the 2023 season, IWU had turned the ball over 11 times (7 interceptions and 4 fumbles) and forced just two miscues. Meanwhile, this season has seen the Green and White lose the ball just twice (1 interception, 1 fumble) and forced seven turnovers (five interceptions and two fumbles).
Nationally, Illinois Wesleyan is ranked 16th in turnover margin at 1.67 - the best mark in the CCIW. Additionally, the Titans' two turnovers lost are tied for 13th-best in Division III.

MAKING THEM WORK: The Titan defense has made its opponents work hard for points this season, especially in the red zone. In fact, IWU has the 12th-best red zone defense in all of Division III as the Titans are only allowing opponents to score on 44.4 percent of their trips inside the IWU 25.

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 230 games as the head man at his alma mater, ranks first in the country among active Division III head coaches. Across all NCAA divisions, Eash is fifth trailing LSU's Brian Kelly (287), North Carolina's Mack Brown (285), Sam Houston's K.C. Keeler (266), and South Dakota's Bob Neilson (231).

HOME SWEET HOME: The Titans are 127-54 (.702) at home since Norm Eash became head coach in 1987. IWU has won 26 of its past 36 home games dating back to the 2016 season.

WITH A WIN...: The Titans would improve to 3-1 with a win over WashU Saturday, continuing the Green and White's best start to the season since 2018. That year, IWU dropped its opener to UW-La Crosse, 34-31, before taking down Wheaton (24-14), Augustana (41-24), and Carroll (28-13). The Titans finished that season with an 8-2 record, including a 7-1 CCIW mark, to earn a share of the conference title.

THAT'S A FIRST: Week three saw linebacker turned tight end Markus Marshall score the first touchdown of his career in IWU's final score in the 35-0 win over Carhage. Marshall hauled in his first career catch on a 14-yard TD pass from Dermot Smyth.

ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan hits the road for the first time in league play next Saturday, Oct. 12, with a trip to nationally-ranked Wheaton College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.