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Malik Gray and Will Nazha cele
AJE Photography 2026
0
Elmhurst ELM 1-6 , 0-5
44
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 6-2 , 4-2
Elmhurst ELM
1-6 , 0-5
0
Final
44
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
6-2 , 4-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ELM Elmhurst 0 0 0 0 0
IWU Ill. Wesleyan 7 23 7 7 44

Game Recap: Football |

Football Overpowers Elmhurst

Titans advance to 6-2 overall, 4-2 in CCIW play

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team picked up a wire-to-wire win over Elmhurst University Saturday, Oct. 24, at Tucci Stadium. The Titans (6-2, 4-2 CCIW) bullied the Bluejays (1-6, 0-5 CCIW), 44-0, ahead of next week's bye.

Illinois Wesleyan's defense pitched its first shutout since Sept. 28, 2024 in the victory. The dominating defensive showing was highlighted by five sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Junior Gavin LaDere (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) led the way with seven stops, including 1.5 sacks, while senior John Gavin (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-Prospect) put up six stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior Marcheon Griffin (Elmhurst, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) followed with five tackles, one for loss, and half a sack alongside a pass breakup.

The Green and White flexed its balanced offensive attack to churn out 534 yards of total offense. Senior Dermot Smyth (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) and sophomore Kyle Beaty (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) combined to throw for 313 yards, completing 20-of-28 passes with two scores. Smyth completed 14-of-18 pass attempts with two TDs in his first game back since Sept. 19. The QB duo was balanced by a run game that churned out 221 rushing yards. Senior Malik Gray (Chicago, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) found the endzone four times finishing with 76 yards on 15 carries. Seven Titans hauled in catches, led by junior Will Nazha (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) with eight grabs for 123 yards. 

Elmhurst chewed up nearly the first 10 minutes of action with a 16-play, 73-yard drive, but came up without anything to show for it. With the ball two yards away from the endzone and a fresh set of downs, freshman Jamari Chaney (Chicago, Ill.-Mt. Carmel) made a stop behind the line for a one-yard loss. The Bluejays bounced back with a run up the middle, but Griffin stopped the ball carrier at the one. Frank came up with a huge pass breakup on third and Gavin and senior Conner Wagner (Morton, Ill.-Morton) tracked down an Elmhurst running back out on the right side for a one-yard loss to end the drive on downs.

Leaning heavily on the run game, the Green and White marched 98 yards on 11 plays over the next 5:44 of clock. Pavelka opened the drive with a 15-yard rush and Nazha later converted on third down with a 12-yard catch. Junior Tony Noto (Mokena, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central) broke loose for a 19-yard scamper and added runs of seven and 10 yards to take the Titans into the redzone. Smyth hit Deacy for a 10-yard touchdown to push IWU in front, 7-0, with 20.6 to go in the first quarter.

IWU's defense forced a three-and-out, limiting Elmhurst to just one yard to quickly put the ball back into the hands of the Titan offense. Riding the run game, Illinois Wesleyan sandwiched an 18-yard reception by Nazha with a series of runs by Gray. Feeding the hot-hand, Gray punched it in from the one-yard line to double the home team's lead, 14-0. 

With the Titan defense humming, Beaty took advantage of a free play. With flags flying on the snap, the sophomore QB rolled out and heaved a pass down field, where senior Cooper King (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township) made a diving catch across the five-yard line. IWU went right back to Gray, as the senior scored his second TD of the day.

A timely challenge by head coach Jared Williamson resulted in a safety against the Bluejays and upped the lead to 23-0.

Setup by a big return by Nazha, the Titans took the ensuing kickoff in for another score before halftime. Deacy made a big catch across the middle and Smyth dropped a ball in over the top to Nazha for a score.

Leading 30-0 out of the break, IWU tacked two more Gray touchdown runs to close out the shutout.

Illinois Wesleyan enjoys a weekend off before returning to the field at home Saturday, Nov. 7, for a Salute to Service game against North Park University.

 
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