BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team kicks off a two-game homestand at Tucci Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 26, with a battle against second-ranked Wheaton College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Illinois Wesleyan enters the clash with a 3-0 record, sitting at 1-0 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opponents. The Titans are coming off a 17-10 road win at Augustana College, Sept. 19. Similarly, the Thunder travel to Bloomington at 3-0 on the year (1-0 CCIW). Wheaton walloped Millikin University, 82-10, Sept. 19, to setup a matchup on unbeatens this week.
Fans can tune into a live stream on the CCIW Network, while live stats will also be available for the contest. Links can be found on the football schedule page of iwusports.com.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE SPRING SPORTS: Illinois Wesleyan will recognize outstanding accomplishments from the spring sport season at halftime as IWU applauds the CCIW softball tournament and regular season champion team and NCAA track & field national qualifiers from 2026.
LAPPIN'S PICK-SIX: Junior Lucas Lappin hauled in his team-leading third interception of the season in IWU's win at Augie, Sept. 19. Lappin returned the pick for a score, giving IWU its first pick-six since Shea Gaffney and Artist Benjamin did so in a win over Elmhurst Nov. 11, 2023.
Lappin was named the CCIW Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 21. Lappin rounded out his stat line with a team-high 11 tackles, eight solo.
ALL-TIME TALLY WITH THE THUNDER: In a series dating back to 1922, Wheaton holds a 39-29-2 all-time advantage over the Green and White. The Titans last defeated the Thunder on Sept. 15, 2018 at Tucci Stadium, 24-14, while Wheaton has won the past six matchups.
Last season, Wheaton rode a big second quarter to a 65-21 win over IWU at Tucci Stadium, Oct. 11. GB Kruzick and Jimmy Deacy each hauled in 100+ receiving yards, with Kruzick finishing with a game-high 113 yards. Deacy tacked on 111 on a game-high eight receptions.
WORTH IT: A key piece of Illinois Wesleyan's success this season is its ability to flip the field with the boot of junior punter Matt Worthington. Thanks in large part to the effectiveness of Worthington and its strong returners, IWU has an average drive start of the IWU 31-yard line, while opponents are starting drives at their own 25-yard line. Worthington is averaging 43.6 yards per punt, good for fourth-best across Division III.
SEPTEMBER: Illinois Wesleyan has compiled a 39-15 record in the month of September since 2010. IWU went 2-1 in the month last season, with the Titans' lone loss coming against Central to begin the year. The Titans sit at 3-0 in the month this year.
IT'S BUILDING: Illinois Wesleyan continued to receive votes in a national poll this week, as the Titans found themselves in the receiving votes category of the AFCA's fourth poll. IWU, which garnered 21 points, were one of four CCIW programs in the conversation. North Central topped the poll, with Wheaton checking in at No. 2. Augie was included in the receiving votes list.
BALL HAWKS: The Titans have recorded eight interceptions on the season with Lucas Lappin leading the team with three. Clint Teater has two and Joey DeMaio, Nathan Frank, and Ian Whitaker have added one pick apiece. IWU's interception total leads the CCIW and is slotted second-most across Division III as of Sept. 23.
WINNING UP FRONT: The Green and White's defensive line has been one of the most disruptive units in the country. The Titans lead the conference and are fourth in the country with 4.67 team sacks per game, while their 9.0 tackles for loss are 10th-most. The heavy and consistent pressure in the backfield has opponents limited to a .295 third-down conversion percentage, the fourth-best mark in the CCIW and 60th nationally.
WITH A WIN…: With a win, Illinois Wesleyan will move to 4-0 on the year for the first time since 2015. That year, IWU secured a road win at Franklin (34-24) before scoring
home wins over Alma (49-14) and Simpson (49-7). The Titans finished that season 7-3 after winning their first seven games of the season.
A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN: With his 56-yard rushing touchdown to seal IWU's win, Sept. 12, Dermot Smyth added another nugget to his illustrious career. Smyth eclipsed 1000 career rushing yards on the play, becoming the first Titan quarterback to clear the mark while also throwing for 5000+ yards. He finished the game with five touchdown passes, one shy of the program record, and added a rushing TD. More recently, Smyth became one of five Titans in program history to throw for 6000+ career yards.
The veteran signal caller sits inside the program's top-10 in several categories including rushing touchdowns (4th), passing touchdowns (6th), passing yards (6th), and passing completions (7th).
ON REPEAT: Junior wide receiver Will Nazha continued his torrid start to the season with a 10-reception, 143-yard performance against Trine, Sept. 12. The second-year starter hauled in a career-high three touchdowns in the game, becoming the first Titan to do so since Charlie Hamilton in 2021.
Through three games, Nazha has established himself as one of the best wide outs in Division III. He is 15th nationally in receiving touchdowns with four, 16th in receptions per game (7.67), 16th in receiving yards (325), 28th in receiving yards per game (108.3), 40th in total touchdowns (4), and 50th in total points scored (24).
CCIW PRESEASON POLL: Illinois Wesleyan was predicted to finish fourth in the annual CCIW Preseason Coaches Poll. IWU's 45 points were behind North Central (64), Wheaton (57), and Augustana (47). Carroll (32) rounded out the top-five. Carthage (29), North Park (25), Millikin (17), and Elmhurst (8) filled out the final four slots, respectively. Of the nine first-place votes, NCC pulled in eight, while Wheaton snagged one.
ON THE HORIZON: Illinois Wesleyan is back at home next Saturday, Oct. 3, for a Homecoming date with Carthage College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and will see several recognitions pregame and throughout the contest.
