BLOOMINGTON, Ill - College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin action kicks off Saturday, Sept. 20, as the Illinois Wesleyan University football team hosts Elmhurst University at Tucci Stadium. Game time between the Titans and Bluejays is scheduled for 1 p.m.
    Illinois Wesleyan looks to get in the win column for the first time this season, entering the contest 0-1. The Titans dropped their season opener, 27-18, to  now 25th-ranked Central College, Sept. 6. Meanwhile, Elmhurst boasts a 1-0 mark following a 34-30 thriller over Rockford University, Sept. 13.
    Fans can tune into a radio broadcast with Eric Stock calling the action on the field alongside Joel Swanson, while live stats and a broadcast will also be available for the contest. Links can be found on the football schedule page of iwusports.com.

FIVE DOLLAR SMOOTHIES: Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a proud supporter of Illinois Wesleyan athletics, will be dolling out $5 smoothies at Tucci Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 20. Fans can purchase their smoothies just inside the southeast entrance beginning at 12 p.m.

HE BLEEDS GREEN: Coach Mike Murray, a 1984 Ilinois Wesleyan graduate, is in his third stint on the Titan football staff in 2025. Serving as Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator on Jared Williamson's staff, Murray bleeds Titan green and found his way back to his alma mater following a two-year run as Elmhurst's  head coach.
    In two seasons leading IWU's conference foe, Murray reinvigorated the Bluejay football program. Inheriting a program that had won just two games over a 30-game span, Murray guided Elmhurst to its most wins since 2016 last season in 2024.

WILL THEY CATCH HIM? NAZHA: Illinois Wesleyan scored its first touchdown of the season by way of a 90-yard kickoff return by Will Nazha late in the first quarter. Nazha, in his collegiate debut, posted the first kickoff returned for a touchdown since Jahari Scott's 88-yard run back against WashU Oct. 5, 2024. Additionally, it was the longest for IWU since Scott's 92-yard house call against Augustana Oct. 28, 2023.
    Nationally, Nazha is one of 18 players in Division III with a kickoff returned for a touchdown this season. He is one of two CCIW players on the list (Wesley McCloud - North Park) and holds the 12th-longest kickoff return for a touchdown across Division III this season.

BIG BOOT: Head coach Jared Williamson has been touting the big leg of freshman AJ Vavrik throughout preseason interviews, and many saw exactly why in IWU's season opener, Sept. 6. Capping off a 12-play drive, Vavrik split the uprights on a 41-yard field goal to pull the Titans within four of the Dutch, 14-10. Vavrik's boot was the longest since Andrew Stange's 42-yarder during the 2022 season. The kick ranks as the 17th-longest in Division III this season and leads the CCIW.

BATTLING THE BLUEJAYS: The Titans have an overall 59-12-1 record against the Bluejays. The first meeting between these two teams was in 1930 in Bloomington, Ill., which saw a 13-7 IWU victory. The Titans have won the past 10 matchups with the Bluejays and 16 of the past 18 meetings between to the two foes.
    Last season, the Green and White marched out of Elmhurst with a 55-7 victory. The Titans scored 41 first-half points en route to the blowout, as Dermot Smyth finished with five combined touchdowns. Smyth threw for two TDs, one to Jimmy Deacy and another to Collin Elledge, while adding three rushing scores in the victory. Defensively, Josh Hlavacek and Matt Hansen notched two sacks apiece. Jimmy Capecci hauled in an interception and Cole Pradel forced a fumble as IWU won the turnover battle.

STOP!: Illinois Wesleyan saw three Titans notch double-digit tackles against Central, Sept. 6. Coincidentally, it was the first time since last season's season opener that IWU had three players accrue 10+ tackles. John Gavin led the way with 12 stops, while Joey DeMaio and Ashley Brantley turned in 11 and 10, respectively. Gavin  was part of the 2024 trio that accomplished the feat as he finished the game against the Dutch with 14 tackles. Cole Pradel tallied a game-high 17 stops and Sam Schott added 11.

CCIW FLEXES IN NON-CON PLAY: The CCIW went a combined 7-3 during non-conference play, with two of the three losses coming to now nationally ranked opponents. Wheaton lost to second-ranked Mount Union, while IWU was tripped up by No. 25 Central. Carroll, the lone other CCIW program to drop its opener to UW-Eau Claire, 29-7.

CCIW PRESEASON POLL: IWU was picked to finish fourth in the CCIW poll released Aug. 18.
    North Central, the reigning NCAA Division III National Champions, garnered nine first-place votes and topped the poll with 81 points. Wheaton ranked second with 73 points and hauled in one first-place nod, while WashU (65 points) rounded out the top-three.
    Illinois Wesleyan checked in at fourth, followed by Carroll (48 points), Augustana (43 points), North Park (34 points), and Carthage (26 points). Millikin was slotted ninth with 14 points and Elmhurst ranked 10th with 13 points.

AND HE STICKS THE LANDING: Illinois Wesleyan sophomore defensive back Lucas Lappin hauled in the first interception of his career in the season opener, Sept. 6. Lappin tracked a tipped pass and pulled it in for the INT.

BEGIN AGAIN: Coaching changes are few and far between for IWU football as Jared Williamson will be just the third person to lead the program since 1954. He follows Norm Eash, who put together a storied career during his 38 years as the Titans' lead man, while Don Larson held the role for the 33 years prior.

SEPTEMBER: Illinois Wesleyan has compiled a 34-15 record in the month of September since 2010. IWU went 2-1 in the month last season, with the Titans' lone loss during the stretch coming at Central to begin the year.

RIDE ON: The Titans will hit the road for the first time this season next Saturday, Sep. 27, as the Green and White treks to Kenosha, Wis. for a game at Carthage College. Kickoff of the CCIW contest is on tap for 1 p.m.