MARION, Ind. – Indiana Wesleyan registered a 23-0 shutout over Taylor in a Friday evening contest. It marked the second shutout in the school's history as the Wildcats improved to 10-3 in front of the home fans. 

The shutout marked the first time the Trojans had not scored in a game since a 42-0 loss at Siena Heights on Oct. 12, 2019.


GAME VITALS:

• Indiana Wesleyan 23, Taylor 0
• RECORDS: IWU 2-3; Taylor 1-4

IWU Standouts

• Xander Stokes completed 24-of-33 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown.
• Devodney Alford rushed 31 times for 127 yards and a score, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Brayden Smith hauled in 12 passes for 124 yards while Tommy Fossett caught a 61-yard touchdown pass. 
• Josh Davidson and Ismael Avila each had five tackles to lead the way defensively. Hunter Terrell and Isaac Abeo each had 1.5 tackles for loss. 
• The Wildcats had six pass break-ups, including two from Neil Campbell. 
• Ben VonGunten connected on three field goals in four attempts and drilled both extra points.

FIRST QUARTER

• Neither squad could gain much traction in the opening stanza. The Wildcats ended the first period having gained 40 yards on the drive, highlighted by Devodney Alford's 13-yard first-down run on the first play of the drive. 

SECOND QUARTER

• IWU finished the drive it started prior to the end of the first quarter by scoring a touchdown on a 34-yard run by Alford just 1:46 into the quarter. VonGunten's extra point pushed the lead to 7-0. 
• After a quick three-and-out, the Wildcats were put in solid field position after a 41-yard return by Justin Johnson. IWU managed to get to the 21-yard line before being unable to convert a third-and-eight. VonGunten nailed a 38-yard attempt to go up 10-0 with 5:40 to play before intermission.
• On the next offensive possession, Stokes found Smith for 15-yards on second-and-10. The Wildcats drove to the 12 yard line where VonGunten buried a 29-yard field goal for a 13-0 edge at the break. 

THIRD QUARTER

• In a defensive battle during the third frame, IWU broke through with another field goal from VonGunten, this time from 28 yards out. The highlight of the drive came when Stokes connected with Smith for a 37-yard gain on third-and-33 at the IWU 30.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Leading 16-0 in the fourth quarter, Stokes hit Fossett for a 61-yard touchdown with 8:32 to play. 
• On the next drive from Taylor, Neil Campbell and Ismael Avila each broke up passes, essentially ending any thoughts of a comeback by the visitors.

RECORD BOOK

• The 12 receptions by Smith marked the most by a Wildcat since he had 13 in 2018 against Olivet Nazarene. His 124 yards receiving was the first time a student-athlete crossed the 100-yard mark for receiving yards since he had 164 against Lawrence Tech in 2019.
• It marked the first turnover free game since Oct. 19, 2019 at Saint Francis.
• The 61-yard pass and catch by Stokes to Fossett is the third-longest pass and catch in school history.
• Smith now has over 2,000 career receiving yards (2,025) while Alford has 1,643 rushing yards. Both top the IWU record books. 
• Smith also surpassed 150 receptions and over 2,000 all-purpose yards for his career.
• VonGunten has converted 90 extra points and 26 field goals for his career.

NEXT TIME OUT

• The Wildcats return to action on Saturday, Apr. 3 for the home finale against Concordia. Kick-off is slated for 2 p.m.

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