SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Indiana Wesleyan recorded a 35-14 win over Lawrence Tech Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats controlled the game from the outset and posted a pair of touchdowns after the home squad pulled within seven in the third quarter. The win extends the No. 5 IWU winning streak to five while pushing the team's record to 5-1 on the year.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A staunch defense allowed the Wildcats to take a 14-0 lead at halftime. IWU scored on its first possession and never looked back.
• Donovan Shelton was the catalyst for the defense, registering a pair of first-quarter interceptions.
• Mosher also had a pair of interceptions on the afternoon for the defense. 
• The Wildcats are tied for 2nd in the NAIA with 2.26 interceptions per game and tied for 4th with 13 total interceptions.

FIRST QUARTER

• After Donovan Shelton intercepted a pass on the first possession of the game, the Wildcats marched down the field for a 7-0 lead.
• Xander Stokes got things going with a pass to Jacquez Carter.
• On second-and-10, Daniel Weems scampered 13 yards for a first down.
• A 46-yard pass from Stokes to Carter put the Wildcats in the red zone. On the ensuing play, Stokes hit Charlie Hill for the score.
• Shelton intercepted a third-and-one pass late in the first frame.

SECOND QUARTER

• On first-and-10 from the 38-yard line, Williams rushed for four yards to get things going. On third-and-12, Carter caught an 11-yard pass from Stokes. Facing a fourth-and-one, Stokes rushed for the first down.
• With the ball on the 13-yard line, Stokes found Carter once again for a 13-yard strike, giving the visitors a 14-0 lead at the break.

THIRD QUARTER

• Up 14-7, IWU went back to work. Markell Stephens-Peppers hauled in an eight-yard pass.
• Carter caught a 13-yard strike to move the chains.
• On 2nd-and-8 from the 40, Stephens-Peppers hauled in a 36-yard pass to set up first and goal.
• Xavier Gordon pushed the score to 21-7 on a four-yard scamper.  

FOURTH QUARTER

• Leading 21-14, Carter returned a punt 37 yards to the Lawrence Tech 26-yard line. That huge special teams play set up a 31-yard touchdown pitch and catch from Stokes to Carter for a two-score advantage.
• After forcing a punt, Stephens-Peppers hauled in a 40-yard pass to the three-yard line. Two plays later, Stokes pushed it in for a 35-14 edge, sealing the victory for the red-hot Wildcats.

TURNING POINT

• Leading 21-14, the punt return from Carter set up the ensuing touchdown for IWU, breaking the spirit from Lawrence Tech.    

WHAT THE WIN MEANS

• One of the hottest teams in the country returns home for Homecoming against Saint Francis.

KEY STATISTICS

• IWU racked up 350 yards, totaling 5.5 yards per play on the day. Stokes threw for 308 yards on 21-of-34, tallying 9.1 yards per pass.
• Carter hauled in 13 passes for 181 yards. Stephens-Peppers caught four passes for 87 yards while Hill had the one touchdown catch.
• Weems rushed for a team-high 50 yards on 15 carries.
• Defensively, Clayton Mosher led the way with 10 tackles while Shelton had seven. Mosher and Shelton had two interceptions apiece.

LANGS PERSPECTIVE

• "I'm proud of our guys going on the road into a tough environment and coming out with another gritty win. We must continue to focus on improving on each unit as we prepare for another very good opponent."

NEXT UP

• IWU returns home on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 12:00 p.m. against the University of Saint Francis (Ind.).
• Individuals looking to attend can purchase tickets at IWUWildcats.com/Tickets.

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