ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A gutsy comeback fell short as the Illinois Wesleyan University football team dropped a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin clash at WashU's Francis Olympic Field Saturday, Oct. 4. The Titans (2-2, 2-1 CCIW) saw their undefeated league run come to an end, 42-40, as the Bears boosted their resume to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the CCIW.

Illinois Wesleyan struck first and maintained the lead into the second quarter, but 21 unanswered points by WashU turned the tide. The Bears upped a 14-13 halftime lead to a 28-13 advantage midway through the third quarter. An 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown brought the Green and White within striking distance, 28-19, but the Bears broke the game open with a 17-point advantage, 42-25, with less than eight minutes to go in regulation. 

The Green and White battled to the end though as juniors Malik Gray (Chicago, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) and Dermot Smyth (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) each registered rushing touchdowns. Gray scored first, and Smyth punched it in after IWU's successful onside kick. It was the first onside kick recovered by the Titans since Oct. 29, 2022. Trailing 42-40 with just about a minute to go, IWU attempted another onside kick but this one was secured by WashU. Needing a three-and-out to keep its comeback hopes alive, the defense stood tall but an untimely penalty gave the Bears a fresh set of downs. The first down was all the home team needed as WashU took a knee to close out the game.

The run game caused Illinois Wesleyan fits, as WashU outgained the Titans, 508-418 overall and 421-105 on the ground. IWU held the upperhand through the air as Smyth completed 21-of-41 passes for 313 yards to WashU's 87 passing yard total. Smyth was the top rusher for the Titans, carrying the ball 14 times for 81 yards and a pair of TDs.

Smyth connected with five different wide receivers in the contest, with sophomore Will Nazha (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) totaling a career-best 158 yards on 12 receptions. Nazha and sophomore Michael Barnes Jr. (Lyons, Ill.-Morton West) recorded touchdown receptions in the game, with Barnes Jr. tallying career-highs of two catches and 53 yards.

Senior Matt Hansen (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) made a career-high nine tackles, including one for a six-yard loss. Junior Joey DeMaio (Woodridge, Ill.-Lemont Township) notched a team-high 11 stops, with sophomore Lucas Lappin (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich) tacking on 10, with one TFL.

WashU won the toss and deferred, allowing Illinois Wesleyan to strike first. After a WashU facemask avoided a three-and-out by the Titans, Smyth hit sophomore GB Kruzick (Morton, Ill.-Morton) for a 12-yard pickup to move the chains across midfield. Setup with first and 10 from the WashU 41-yard line, Smyth connected with Barnes Jr. in stride for a touchdown to push IWU ahead, 6-0, after a missed PAT.

Thirty-eight rushing yards and a 31-yard pass saw WashU finish off a seven-play, 69-yard drive as the Bears clawed ahead, 7-6. The run game propelled the home team into IWU territory, but a tackle at the line of scrimmage by DeMaio and junior Austin Brown (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) had WashU staring down third-and-long. With a flag thrown as the Titans jumped early, the Bears' Levi Moore aired out a 31-yard pass to Makael Carter in the far corner of the endzone to capitalize on the miscue. 

Senior Danny Kent (Addison, Ill.-Fenwick) carries sandwiched a 21-yard reception by Deacy before Barnes' 12-yard catch gave Illinois Wesleyan a fresh set of downs at the WashU 38. Smyth's keeper on first down was good for nine and Kent followed with a bulldozing eight-yard scamper up the middle as IWU returned to the red zone. The Green and White drive appeared to be stalled on third down with the Titans' needing 11 yards for the first down marker, but Smyth hit Nazha across the middle for 15 yards. A penalty against the Bears set up a three-yard QB keeper as Smyth found the end zone for the third time this season. Freshman AJ Vavrik (LaGrange, Ill.-Lyons Township) converted the ensuing point to lift IWU in front, 13-7.

WashU mishandled the kickoff by Lach Sullivan (Rochester, Ill.-Rochester) and junior Bryce Reese (Red Bud, Ill.-Waterloo) was there with a big hit at the 20-yard line to keep a dangerous Bears returner in check. WashU rode its run game into scoring position, but a penalty wiped a touchdown off the board and backed the Bears up. A pass to the endzone was picked off by junior Nathan Frank (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-Hoffman Estates), who read the play the whole way and tightroped the sideline to stay in bounds for the timely turnover.

Penalties kept the Titans behind the chains as IWU was held scoreless on its third possession of the night. The Bears capped off a 75-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown up the middle by Fred Ware to take a 14-13 edge into halftime.

The Bears added another score out of the break, making the Titans pay for a pair of offside penalties. With the defense appearing to have WashU stopped just inside midfield, an offsides call gave the Bears fourth down and four. A 10-yard reception moved the chains and a 17-yard TD pass extended WashU's lead, 21-13, with 11:49 to go in the third quarter.

WashU scored again less than four minutes later to open up a 28-13 advantage, but an unsportsmanlike penalty backed the Bears up on the kickoff. Taking full advantage, Kent hauled in the kickoff at the 20-yard line and broke through a barrage of defenders near IWU's 40-yard line before winning a race down the Illinois Wesleyan sideline. With one man left in his way, Kent side-stepped the defender and completed the momentum-shifting play. The 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown re-energized the Green and White, cutting the deficit to single digits, 28-19.

Illinois Wesleyan saw the deficit grow to three scores, 35-19, as WashU tacked on a 10-yard touchdown run less than a minute into the fourth quarter.

The Titans displayed plenty of resolve on their first possession of the final period, converting on several long late downs as part of an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Nazha hauled in his team-leading sixth reception of the night and muscled through contact for a 10-yard score. IWU was unable to convert on a two-point conversion, leaving WashU with a 35-25 lead.

After a quick answer from the Bears, the Titans used 12 plays to move 75 yards. The drive, which featured key grabs by Nazha and Kruzick, saw junior Malik Gray push his way through the WashU defensive line for the score. A gutsy run and dive by Smyth hit the pylon for a successful two-point conversion, pulling the Green and White within single digits, 42-33.

A perfectly executed onside kick by the Titans made things interesting late. With Illinois Wesleyan's offense driving, sophomore Cooper King (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township) pulled in a pass to give IWU first-and-10 from the WashU 20-yard line at the two-minute timeout. Nazha caught an 18-yard pass from Smyth before Smyth took it in himself. Smyth's second rushing touchdown of the night cut the deficit to two, 42-40, with just over a minute left.

Illinois Wesleyan attempted another onside kick but this one was gobbled up by WashU as the Titan comeback fell short, 42-40.

Illinois Wesleyan eyes a bounce back against 14th-ranked Wheaton College Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff of the Homecoming bout between the Titans and Thunder is slated for 1 p.m. at Tucci Stadium.