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Dermot Smyth
Kodiak Creative
33
Winner WashU WAS 3-1 , 2-1
23
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 2-2 , 2-1
Winner
WashU WAS
3-1 , 2-1
33
Final
23
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
2-2 , 2-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WAS WashU 7 19 7 0 33
IWU Ill. Wesleyan 0 8 15 0 23

Game Recap: Football |

Football Falls Short Against WashU

Titans slip to 2-2 on the season, 1-1 in CCIW

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Turnovers proved costly for the Illinois Wesleyan University football team Saturday, Oct. 5, at Tucci Stadium as the Titans could not complete a second-half comeback in a 33-23 loss to Washington University in St. Louis on Homecoming. The Titans fall to 2-2 on the season, 1-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with the setback, while WashU bolstered its record to 3-1 on the year (2-1 CCIW). 

Illinois Wesleyan put up 366 yards of total offense, 249 passing and 117 rushing, but was stymied by four turnovers as WashU compiled 396 yards of total offense. The Bears churned up 221 rushing yards despite the Titans holding advantages in time of possession (32:50 - 27:10) and third-down conversions. IWU finished 7-for-16 on the third down, while WashU was 3-for-12. The Bears went 1-for-1 on fourth though, while the Titans were held to 0-for-2.

Sophomore Dermot Smyth (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) completed 23-of-44 passes, with senior Myles Kee (St. Louis, Mo.-Priory) hauling in 12 catches for 147 yards and a score. Junior Jahari Scott (Lake Bluff, Ill.-Lake Forest) was IWU's top rusher, carrying the ball 14 times for 67 yards. Overall, Scott finished with 182 all-purpose yards.

Defensively, senior Artist Benjamin (Wilmette, Ill.-Loyola Academy) made a team-best nine tackles to go along with five pass breakups. Senior Cole Pradel (Oswego, Ill.-Oswego) added eight stops with a tackle for loss and pass breakup, while senior Sam Schott (West Lafayette, Ind.-West Lafayette) added six tackles, one TFL, and two quarterback hurries. Sophomore Nathan Schmidt (Chicago, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) passed the team with 1.5 tackles for loss, while also blocking a kick. 

Illinois Wesleyan was limited to just two points over the first 28 minutes as WashU charged ahead, 20-2. The Green and White saw a blocked extra point attempt scooped up and taken to the end zone by senior Frank Roti (Orland Hills, Ill.-Andrew) for a 92-yard two-point conversion.

Several big runs by Scott sent the Titans downfield quickly before Smyth found Kee in the corner of the endzone for a 10-yard score. The touchdown capped off a 12-play, 75-yard drive to pull IWU within a dozen, 20-8, as the game approached the two-minute stoppage in the second quarter.

IWU's momentum was halted though, as the Bears scored on a three-yard pass to drive back ahead, 26-8, into the break.

After the Titan defense forced a 21-second three-and-out to start the third quarter, IWU appeared poised for a score but a turnover thwarted the opportunity.

The Bears used a 10-play, 84-yard drive to eat up four minutes and extend their lead to 33-8 with just under six minutes left in the third.

The ensuing kickoff was picked up off a hop by Scott at the IWU 12-yard line. Dodging an early tackle, Scott broke loose for an 88-yard touchdown along the Illinois Wesleyan sideline to ignite the crowd and trim the deficit, 33-15.

Special teams came through clutch moments later as sophomore Joey DeMaio (Woodridge, Ill.-Lemont Township) punched a ball loose on the kickoff return. Junior Cole Faivre (Polo, Ill.-Polo Community) pounced on the ball to send the IWU offense back out onto the field just outside the red zone. Six straight rushes gauged the WashU defense before Smyth punched it in from the one-yard line. A two-point conversion was good as Smyth found senior Tre Moore (Cool Valley, Mo.-Ritenour) to cut the Bears advantage to 33-23, with 2:19 left in the third quarter.

Illinois Wesleyan's comeback effort stalled in the fourth quarter as turnovers kept the Titans from getting any closer.

IWU hits the road for a CCIW clash with nationally-ranked Wheaton College next Saturday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

 

 
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