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Chase Mackey throwing against Carroll
© AshtinElder
34
Winner Carroll (WI) CAR 4-5 , 4-4
14
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 4-5 , 4-4
Winner
Carroll (WI) CAR
4-5 , 4-4
34
Final
14
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
4-5 , 4-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
CAR Carroll (WI) 7 7 7 13 34
IWU Ill. Wesleyan 7 0 0 7 14

Game Recap: Football |

Football Drops Home Finale to Pios

Titans slip to 4-5

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team was handed a 34-14 setback by Carroll University Saturday, Nov. 8, in the team's home finale at Tucci Stadium. IWU slides to 4-5 (4-4 CCIW) with the loss, while Carroll climbs to 4-5 (4-4 CCIW).

Sophomore Chase Mackey (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) made his first start as a Titan, completing 17-of-33 attempts for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Michael Barnes Jr. (Lyons, Ill.-Morton) put together a career day as Mackey's top receiver. The Lyons, Ill. native churned out a career-high 147 yards on five catches, including a TD.

Overall, the Green and White finished with 301 yards, 290 of which came in the passing game, while Carroll went for 398 yards of total offense. The Pios were especially effective in the run game, tallying a 238-11 lead in rushing yards. 

Junior Joey DeMaio (Woodridge, Ill.-Lemont) and senior Jack Nevins (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) each posted double-digit tackles in the loss. DeMaio notched a game-high 14 tackles, while Nevins finished with a career-high 12 in his final game at Tucci Stadium. Junior Matt Hansen (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) chipped in seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss, while junior Marcheon Griffin (Elmhurst, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) was credited with a team-high two tackles behind the sticks.

A 44-yard catch from sophomore Koby Osterhage (Waterloo, Ill.-Waterloo) on third down, the first completion of Mackey's IWU career, pushed Illinois Wesleyan into the endzone on the opening drive. The Titans tried to catch the Pios on their heels with a trick play, but Nazha's pass attempt was intercepted deep in CU territory. 

The turnover sent Carroll off on its first possession as the Pios began their drive at their own 47 yard line after the 32-yard interception return. The seven-play, 53-yard drive ended with a 21-yard rushing touchdown to put CU up, 7-0, five minutes in.

Illinois Wesleyan's defense came up with a big stop in late downs, as Nevins and junior Nathan Schmidt (Chicago, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) combined for a stop to bring about fourth down. CU elected to go for it, but IWU forced an incompletion. 

With pressure coming on first down, Mackey stepped up in the pocket and unleashed a 51-yard pass into the hands of Barnes Jr. for a touchdown to knot the game at seven with 2:50 left in the opening quarter.

Carroll capitalized on a short field with its full allotment of timeouts, scoring a go-ahead touchdown with 22 seconds left on the clock in period two. The 10-yard touchdown pass from Charlie King to Carson Couch put the visitors ahead, 14-7, into halftime.

The Pioneers chewed up the clock in the third quarter, as the Pios used up the first six and a half minutes of the period with a scoring drive. CU stretched its lead to 21-7 with a 10-yard, 70-play drive to take a two-score advantage into the final frame.

Illinois Wesleyan responded as Mackey found Barnes Jr. for another 51-yard pickup. This time, the big catch set up IWU at the CU 24-yard line. After a five-yard run by Mackey, Osterhage snatched a nine-yard catch to renew the downs with goal to go. After being bottled up on the first two plays from the Carroll 10-yard line, Mackey found junior Jimmy Deacy (Chicago, Ill.-Mount Carmel) in the corner of the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown. 

The TD catch proved to be the final for the Green and White as turnovers thwarted the home team's comeback attempts. Carroll tacked on a touchdown and two field goals in the final five minutes as IWU stumbled, 34-14.

Illinois Wesleyan wraps up the 2025 season on the road at No. 1 North Central College next Saturday, Nov. 15. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. in Naperville, Ill.

 
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