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Tackle - Story Photo 9.26.26
ASHTIN ELDER PHOTO
28
Winner Wheaton (IL) WHE 4-0 , 2-0
7
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 3-1 , 1-1
Winner
Wheaton (IL) WHE
4-0 , 2-0
28
Final
7
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
3-1 , 1-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WHE Wheaton (IL) 7 14 7 0 28
IWU Ill. Wesleyan 0 0 7 0 7

Game Recap: Football |

Titans Struck Down by Second-Ranked Thunder

IWU hosts Carthage for Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 3

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University football team went toe-to-toe with No. 2 Wheaton College in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin action inside Tucci Stadium Saturday, Sept. 26. The Titans (3-1, 1-1 CCIW) were dealt their first loss of the season, 28-7, as the Thunder remained undefeated at 4-0 overall (2-0 CCIW). 

Illinois Wesleyan spotted Wheaton a three-score lead, 21-0, as miscues kept the home team off the board. An illegal block wiped what would have been a go-ahead pick-six off the board on WC's first possession while the Titans mustered just 2-for-11 on third-down. 

Nevertheless, the Green and White came back with a strong second half showing to cut the deficit to two touchdowns, 21-7. Making his first career start, sophomore Kyle Beaty (Normal, Ill.-Normal Community) settled in on IWU's first drive of the second half. After rushing for three on first down, Beaty made the most of a pass interference call with a 38-yard toss to junior Will Nazha (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington). An 18-yard catch by sophomore Cade Danko (Downs, Ill.-Tri Valley) set up first-and-goal from the six, where Beaty connected with Deacy on a six-yard score. The touchdown, the first of Beaty's career and the fourth of Deacy's, polished off a seven-play, 75-yard drive with 11:06 to go in the third quarter.

A turnover gave Wheaton the ball inside the IWU 20-yard line, setting the Thunder up for a score to bolster their lead, 28-7. 

The defense held the visitors silent for the remainder as the Titans held Wheaton to 37 yards of total offense from that point on. Key plays by seniors Ian Whitaker (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic), Nathan Schmidt (Chicago, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep), Joey DeMaio (Woodridge, Ill.-Lemont), and Marcheon Griffin (Elmhurst, Ill.-IC Catholic Prep) led the all-around effort.

Beaty finished the game 27-for-56 with a touchdown pass. Nazha hauled in nine catches for 126 yards, with Danko following closely with six snags for 99 yards. 

DeMaio topped the team with nine tackles, including a sack and two for loss. Junior GB Kruzick (Morton, Ill.-Morton) added eight stops, with junior Gavin LaDere (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) totaling seven on the day. Griffin and senior John Gavin (Mt. Prospect, Ill.-Prospect) contributed one sack each, with senior Nathan Frank (Hoffman Estates, Ill.-Hoffman Estates) securing an interception alongside two pass breakups. 

Overall, Illinois Wesleyan went for 313 yards with 303 coming through the air. Wheaton finished with 312 yards of offense, with 221 in the air and 91 on the ground. IWU went 2-for-11 on third down, while limiting WC to 3-of-9.

Illinois Wesleyan hosts Carthage College next Saturday, Oct. 3, for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., with a slew of celebrations and recognitions on the docket. A full schedule of Homecoming weekend can be found here.

 
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